MOANIN' - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“Moanin’” is a landmark hard bop composition written by pianist Bobby Timmons and first recorded on 30 October 1958 by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers. Its soulful, blues-inflected call-and-response theme and gospel-tinged harmony helped define the hard bop sound and quickly established the tune as a jazz standard. Built around a simple yet powerful piano riff, the piece captures the energy and drive of late-1950s small-group jazz.

The original recording features Art Blakey on drums, a young Lee Morgan on trumpet, Benny Golson on tenor saxophone, Jymie Merritt on bass, and Timmons on piano. Blending blues, swing, and gospel influences, the performance anchors the album’s title track and helped make the Blue Note release one of the most iconic jazz recordings of its era. Since then, “Moanin’” has been widely recorded and remains a cornerstone of the jazz repertoire, valued for its expressive depth and lasting influence.