"Moanin is a composition by Bobby Timmons, first recorded by Art Blakey's band the Jazz Messengers for the album of the same titleSeymour, Gene (2005), in Kirchner, Bill (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Jazz, p. 380. Oxford University Press. that was released by Blue Note Records. Both the single and album are in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Composition "Moanin has a call and response melody. One account of its creation was given by Benny Golson, the tenor saxophonist in Blakey's band: Timmons had the opening eight bars, which he often played between tunes, but formed the complete song only after Golson encouraged him to add a bridge.Anderson, Sheila E. (2003) The Quotable Musician: from Bach to Tupac, pp. 75–76. Skyhorse Publishing. It is played in F minor.
Recordings and reception "Moanin was first recorded, by Art Blakey's band the Jazz Messengers, on October 30, 1958, with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Benny Golson on tenor sax, Bobby Timmons on piano, and Jymie Merritt on bass. It has been recorded numerous times and has become a jazz standard.Morrison, Nick (October 13, 2009) "Art Blakey: Jazz Messenger, Jazz Mentor" npr music. Accessed July 31, 2013. Gary Giddins stated that the song "set the music world on its ear" and that it was "part of the funky, back to roots movement that Horace Silver, Mingus, and Ray Charles helped, in different ways, to fan".Giddins, Gary (March 7, 1974) "Bobby Timmons, 1935–1974" The Village Voice, p. 45. Jon Hendricks later added lyrics, and the subsequent recording by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross made the song even more popular.Kernfeld, Barry "Timmons, Bobby" The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2nd ed.). Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Accessed July 29, 2013. (Subscription required.)
The original recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998; the album on which it appeared was added in 2001.
Personnel Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Lee Morgan – trumpet Benny Golson – tenor saxophone Bobby Timmons – piano Jymie Merritt – bass Art Blakey – drums
Technical personnel Alfred Lion – producer Rudy Van Gelder – recording engineer, mastering
References
External links "Moanin at JazzStandards.com