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Moanin'

Another CD I picked up from the seemingly now-defunct Kriminal Records in Newport is this 2010 2-disc issue on the "Not Now" label. Disc 1 contains the 1958 album Moanin', while disc 2 has Orgy in Rhythm, originally released on two LPs in 1963. The Jazz Messengers only appear on the former, with the latter the fruits of a separate project where Blakey played with no fewer than three other drummers; along with a quartet of percussionists plus bass, piano and flute. Interesting & unusual as they are, I haven't yet taken a shine to the Orgy in Rhythm tracks.

Moanin', on the other hand, is a firm favourite. From the opening piano notes of the title track, one feels in safe hands, and the quality barely dips though the whole record. The Jazz Messengers on this occasion were Benny Golson on tenor sax; Lee Morgan on trumpet, Bobby Timmons on piano and Jymie Merritt on bass. For me, the most memorable instrumental moments on the record come from Morgan, such the spectacular start to his solo on 'Moanin'' itself. Golson is also excellent, if less obviously showy - four of the tunes are also compositions of his. Timmons wrote one too, but that (the title track) turned out to be just about the Messengers' single biggest hit.

From a time when being a jazz musician came with any number of life-threatening health hazards, it's heartening that a few of this band have lived to a good old age. Neither Morgan or Timmons made it to 40, but Blakey was 71 when he died, and Merritt an impressive 93. Golson, meanwhile, is still with us, having recently reached his own 93rd birthday.

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