In February 2018 artist Marsha Hammel invited me to bring my trio to a special event at The Gallery at Flatrock (NC) in which she would paint a portrait of the trio while we performed. Marsha also offered the use of the painting for an album cover. Months later, when I saw the magnificent finished portrait I confirmed it was a great opportunity to create an album to go with the painting. 723867192724 RIHH1927.2 46249005 9.35 13.98 .14 RICHHEART MUSIC COMPACT DISCS POP JAZZ 05/22/2026 https://mediacdn.aent-m.com/prod-img/500/02/3684102-3589579.jpg 1 1 N BLAKEY,ART & THE JAZZ MESSENGERS MOANIN (BLUE NOTE ESSENTIALS SERIES) More than any other album in the canon of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, 1958's Moanin' was the perfect crystallization of the band's bluesy, soulful sound, and it still stands today as perhaps the most quintessential hard bop recording of all time. Originally self-titled, the album was later renamed Moanin' due to the popularity of Timmons' unforgettable opening track. Featuring the great drummer with trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, pianist Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt, the album also introduced several indelible Golson compositions that would become standards of the jazz songbook including, "Along Came Betty" and "Blues March." Blue Note Essential Series is mastered from hi-resolution digital masters on 140g vinyl.