If you only want one record from Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers, it has to be Moanin '. This Blue Note recording from 1958 is the crème de la crème of Messengers' early studio sessions. This group included the complaining Lee Morgan (trumpet), the swinging Benny Golson (sax) and the soulful Bobby Timmons (piano) with veteran bassist Jymie Merritt at Blakey's side. All pieces of the puzzle fall
… into place here with one of the most swinging blues-based records in jazz history. Timmons' classic title piece sets the pace. The laidback question-and-answer chorus and the swinging bridge touch the soul and make your head nod. Golson's bouncing Are You Real and the subtle Along Came Betty contain the unparalleled Messengers band sound, as Blakey chases his men mercilessly. The most dynamic tracks are of course the drum piece The Drum Thunder Suite, a blakey explosion of power, and the powerful Blues March with a shuffle groove, Arts trademark. A delectable version of the standard Come Rain Or Come Sine closes the record. This CD should not be missing in any jazz collection.more