Art Blakey (6)

                                              1958 - Moanin

1 - Moanin'

2 - Moanin' (Alternate Take)

3 - Are You Real

4 - Along Came Betty

5 - The Drum Thunder (Miniature) Suite

6 - Blues March

7 - Come Rain Or Come Shine 

review
by Michael G. Nastos

Moanin' includes some of the greatest music Blakey produced in the studio with arguably his very best band. There are three tracks that are immortal and will always stand the test of time. The title selection is a pure tuneful melody stewed in a bluesy shuffle penned by pianist Bobby Timmons, while tenor saxophonist Benny Golson's classy, slowed "Along Came Betty" and the static, militaristic "Blues March" will always have a home in the repertoire of every student or professional jazz band. "Are You Real?" has the most subtle of melody lines, and "Drum Thunder Suite" has Blakey's quick blasting tom-tom-based rudiments reigning on high as the horns sigh, leading to hard bop. "Come Rain or Come Shine" is the piece that commands the most attention, a highly modified, lilting arrangement where the accompanying staggered, staccato rhythms contrast the light-hearted refrains. Certainly a complete and wholly satisfying album, Moanin' ranks with the very best of Blakey and what modern jazz offered in the late '50s and beyond.

Bobby Timmons : piano

Jymie Merritt : bass

Lee Morgan : Trumpet

Benny Golson : Sax (tenor)

Art Blakey : drums

1954 - A Night At Birland Volume I

1 Announcement by Pee Wee Marquette

2 Split Kick

3 Once in a While

4 Quicksilver

5 A Night in Tunisia

6 Mayreh

7 Wee-dot

8 Blues

Clifford Brown: trumpet

Lou Donaldson: sax (alto)

Horace Silver: piano

Curly Russell: bass

Art Blakey: drums

1954 - A Night At Birland Volume II

1 Wee-Dot

2 If I Had You

3 Quicksilver

4 Now's The Time

5 Confirmation

6  The Way You Look Tonight

7 Lou's Blues

1955 - At The Cafe Bohemia Volume I

1 Announcement by Art Blakey

2 Soft Winds

3 The Theme

4 Minor's Holiday

5 Alone Together

6 Prince Albert

7 Lady Bird

8 What's New

9 Deciphering the Message

Kenny Dorham: trumpet

Hank Mobbley: Sax (tenor)

Horace Silver: piano

 Doug Watkins: bass

Art Blakey: drums

 1955 - At The Cafe Bohemia Volume II

1 Announcement By Art Blakey

2 Sportin' Crowd

 3 Like Someone In Love

4 Yesterdays

5 Avila & Tequila

6 I Waited For You

7 Just One Of Those Things

8 Hank's Symphony

9 Gone With The Wind

1956 - The Jazz Messengers

1 Infra-Rae

2 Nica's Dream

3 It's You Or No One

4 Ecaroh

5 Carol's Interlude

 6 The End Of A Love Affair

7 Hank's Symphony

8 Weird-O

 9  Ill Wind

10 Late Show

11 Deciphering The Message

12 Carol's Interlude (Alternate Take)

Donald Byrd: trumpet

Doug Watkins: bass

Hank Mobley: sax (tenor)

Horace Silver: piano

Art Blakey: drums