Moanin' [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Art Blakey, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B00000I8UF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,061 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Bebop
  • #8 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > General
  • #12 in Music > Jazz > Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is truly one of the great classics of hard bop, with drummer Art Blakey leading arguably his greatest Jazz Messengers lineup through a driving program that never lets up. Tenor saxophonist Benny Golson (whose composition "Along Came Betty" is heard here, subsequently becoming a jazz classic), brilliant trumpeter Lee Morgan, and funky pianist Bobby Timmons (who wrote the hit title cut) each take some of the best solos of their great careers, and Blakey was never greater. No jazz record collection should be without this disc. It remains one of the premier items in Blue Note's catalog, and rightfully so. As part of Blue Note's 1999 60th anniversary celebration, original session producer Rudy Van Gelder's done a smash job remixing Moanin', adding warmth in the low end and far greater color across the spectrum. And the booklet opens like a gatefold LP with vintage black-and-white photos of the original session. --Skip Heller

Product Description

CD Rudy Van Gelder Remaster/24 Bit/+Bonus T

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 99 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars No finer message May 16, 2000

By Emmett T. McQueen

Format:Audio CD

Without a doubt Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers was the most exciting band I've heard in a live performance. His week long gigs at the Keystone Korner in San Francisco were legendary. Every one of his many groups were outstanding though, propelling many of his "youngsters" into careers of their own.

The group on this CD was one of the best. There are many things that make this CD a real joy. From the four original tunes by Benny Golson and the title track by Bobby Timmons to the solid muscular drumming of Blakey himself. For me though there is one thing that dominates this date----Lee Morgan. Lee Morgan absolutely rules. Trumpeter Woody Shaw was once asked one of those interview questions, 'What was your biggest influence?' Without skipping a beat he said, 'The solo Lee Morgan takes on "Moanin". Amen.

From the very first press roll off Blakey's snare Morgan is launched. Bolting out of the gate this young artist is barely containable. The urgency of Art's drumming and the rest of the team compels this dynamic trumpeter to dig deep, creating flurry after flurry of spectacular rhythmic gymnastics, artfully blending them with melodic ideas that just burst out. His harmonic ideas on this piece too are so sweet. Morgan pulls out all the stops, at times employing his signature half valve technique, double tonguing, triple tonguing, slurring, sliding, and just plain carving up the beat. The elegant construction of this gem of a solo has you sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation and at times in disbelief. And what a tone! Smooth, round, big.

Lee's solo on the alternate track is a nice addition and would have made a decent first cut if for some highly unfortunate reason his masterpiece was never recorded. The rest of this CD is excellent too by the way. But oh man, Lee Morgan!

112 of 123 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Much Better Sounding Versions are Available March 13, 2009

By D. Allen

Format:Audio CD

This album is a 5 star classic, but unfortunately, extremely poor mastering significantly detracts from the enjoyment it can bring the listener. Except for the two Monk titles, the RVG Edition series is a seriously flawed collection of historic jazz, especially the first batch that came out in '99, and this is one of those. They sound bottled up, exhibit no air or ambiance, and they possess a hard glare. The glare is generally missing after "99, but the other issues are still present.

Another flaw in this series is that many of the titles are in mono when excellent stereo masters exist. Rudy Van Gelder recorded exclusively in mono prior to March '57, and stereo exclusively after October 30 1958. He only recorded in both formats during the time spanning those two dates. While some will rightfully argue that the mono master sounds best in some instances, the RVG series has many titles in it that were recorded after Oct. 30 1958 that are mono. No mono masters exist for these sessions, so these CD's are simply the stereo master folded down into one channel. What's the purpose of that?

Relief is Available: Most of the RVG Edition titles are available in an earlier US version and as a Japanese import here on Amazon. These sound dramatically better and give you a sense of stage depth and air around the instruments. They are also stereo when possible, and appropriate, and they lack the glare of the RVG Edition. Everything I've purchased that was released before 1999 in the US has been good, and all of the Japanese versions have been good. The imports are very pricey so you might want to get the older US versions through the Amazon Marketplace. I've purchased many of these for under $10 in "Like New" condition. To avoid problems, I recommend only dealing with sellers who have a positive rating of 98% or better. They don't generally misrepresent the condition, and they'll usually get it to you within 4 business days.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Moanin' has got me smilin' again . . . October 2, 2000

By namepeace

Format:Audio CD

"Moanin'" has an essential part of any jazz collection (or music collection, for that matter). The boisterousness of this lp is best reflected in the title track. The beauty of this lp is best reflected in the exquisite "Along Came Betty." I could write superlatives about it all day, but I could never do it justice. Please try it, and I guarantee that your love of jazz will only deepen. And if you don't love jazz, you will after hearing this record.