The formation heard here marks the third incarnation of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers,
which included trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, pianist Bobby
Timmons and bassist Jymie Merritt. In 1954, the band came upon its first stable formation, which
consisted of Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver and Doug Watkins. Blakey’s second stable
band began in 1957, and included Bill Hardman, Johnny Griffin (or Jackie McLean), Sam Dockery
and Spanky Debrest.
Lee Morgan was only 20-years old at the time the Jazz Messengers recorded Moanin’.
His recording debut with Blakey had occurred the previous year at a session which featured
an expanded version of the Jazz Messengers (called ‘the Jazz Messengers plus four’) on April
2, 1957. On April 6, the drummer hired him again for a septet session including John Coltrane.
Morgan and Blakey would record together twice in early 1958 as sidemen for sessions conducted
by organist Jimmy Smith (February 28) and tenor sax player Tina Brooks (March 16) prior to this.
Moanin’ was the first authentic session of the third Jazz Messengers. It took place in Rudy Van
Gelder’s Studio, in Hackensack, New Jersey, on October 30, 1958. It was to be the beginning of a
long and stable musical relationship that would last until 1965, seven years before Morgan was
shot dead (at 33-years old) by his common-law wife during an argument.

Cast & Crew

Director:

Track Listing

• MOANIN’
• ARE YOU REAL’
• ALONG CAME BETTY
• THE DRUM THUNDER SUITE
• BLUES MARCH
• COME RAIN OR COME SHINE

Additional Details

Label:Groove Replica

Genre:Jazz

Language:English

Run Time:40 mins

Region:0

Release Date:09/03/21

UPC:8436569194904