Moanin' (song)
"Moanin'" | |
---|---|
Song by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers | |
from the album Moanin' | |
Language | English |
Written | 1950s |
Recorded | October 30, 1958 |
Label | Blue Note |
Composer(s) | Bobby Timmons |
Lyricist(s) | Jon Hendricks |
"Moanin'" is a composition by Bobby Timmons, first recorded by Art Blakey's band the Jazz Messengers for the 1958 album of the same title[1] that was released by Blue Note Records.[2]
Composition
"Moanin'" has a call and response melody.[1] 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.[3] It is played in F minor.
Recordings and reception
"Moanin'" was first recorded, by Art Blakey's band the Jazz Messengers,[1] on October 30, 1958.[2] It has been recorded numerous times and has become a jazz standard.[4] 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, [Charles] Mingus, and Ray Charles helped, in different ways, to fan."[5] Jon Hendricks later added lyrics,[5] and the subsequent recording by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross made the song even more popular.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Seymour, Gene (2005), in Kirchner, Bill (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Jazz, p. 380. Oxford University Press.
- ^ a b "Art Blakey Discography". jazzdisco.org. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- ^ Anderson, Sheila E. (2003) The Quotable Musician: from Bach to Tupac, pp. 75–76. Skyhorse Publishing.
- ^ Morrison, Nick (October 13, 2009) "Art Blakey: Jazz Messenger, Jazz Mentor" npr music. Accessed July 31, 2013.
- ^ a b Giddins, Gary (March 7, 1974) "Bobby Timmons, 1935–1974" The Village Voice, p. 45.
- ^ 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.)