Moanin' (Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers) - Nord C1 Hammond B-3 Clonewheel Organ Clavia

Here is my arrangement of Moanin'. Moanin' was originally recorded by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1958.

Chorus 1: The melody. The song is built on this format:
A (8 bars)
A (8 bars)
B (8 bars)
A (8 bars)


Chorus 2: Solo.
A - Emphasize the 6th. One non-tonal slide from the upper to the lower manual, a number of grace notes, a few keyboard 'thumps' on the lower manual.

A - Solo one octave lower, a few thumps on the lower manual. A number of grace notes. This part ends with a 'machine gun' tremolo.

B - Upwards palm glissando. Two-note tremolo. Down and upwards palm glissando. Pedal tone with the thumb under a chorded figure. Then a chorded triplet riff. A one octave thumb upwards thumb glissando followed by a pedal tone phrase, another short upwards thumb glissando and yet another pedal tone phrase.

A - Four downwards thumb glissandos in a row. A few solo phrases. This part ends with a small pedal tone figure.


Chorus 3: Solo.
A - Higher and higher up on the keyboard until the highest C note. On my way up I use my right wrist to play two keyboard 'thumps' on the lower manual while I'm holding notes on the upper manual. A short downwards triplet staccato palm glissando. Four upwards index finger glissandos in a row.

A - A triplet phrase upwards. Working my way up to the highest C again. I'm using one wrist keyboard thump on the lower manual (while holding a note on the upper manual) this time. Three downwards thumb glissandos. Then a 'machine gun' tremolo phrase.

B - A few solo phrases, then a chorded pedal tone phrase (the little finger is holding the pedal tone). A small block chord, and then ending this part with a blues phrase.

A - Pedal tone phrases all the time, except for one down and upwards palm glissando.


The bass line during my two solo choruses is in this format:
Solo chorus 1
A - Two-times-on-the-same-note bass line
A - Two-times-on-the-same-note bass line
B - Quarter note walking bass line
A - Two-times-on-the-same-note bass line

Solo chorus 2
A - Quarter note walking bass line
A - Quarter note walking bass line
B - Two-times-on-the-same-note bass line
A - Quarter note walking bass line


Chorus 4: The melody (AABA).

Then the B part is repeated one more time.


Ending: I play the main riff two times, then slowing it down in the lower register of the upper manual. A palm staccato glissando is followed by a long B9add6/F chord.

I play a few left hand phrases and end with a downwards left thumb glissando to the lowest F.

Then I play a F5 chord with my right hand while changing the speed of the Leslie simulator from Stop position to Fast, with the half-moon switch. When the Leslie sim is up to speed I switch back to the Stop position. When the Leslie sim is close to a stop I switch back to Fast position and play the lowest F on both manuals.

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The organ is a Clavia Nord C1 - a Hammond B-3 clonewheel organ.

Nord C1 Registrations and Settings:
Upper 88 8000 000. Percussion On, Soft, Fast, Third.
Lower 80 8000 000.
Bass lower manual 80.
Leslie simulator Stop position (except during the ending).
Equalizer not used.
Overdrive not used.
Reverb Hall, Soft, 50%.
Tonewheel mode Vintage 2 (high level of tonewheel crosstalk and cable leakage artefacts).

The sound is recorded line out from the organ. No additional external effects, external amplifiers or speakers are used.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Moanin'
• Jazz
• Messengers
• Art
• Blakey
• Nord
• C1
• Hammond
• B-3
• Clonewheel
• Organ
• Clavia
• Rounder
• rounder2u

[CroissantOrange]

Sounds like wrong chord in the intro

[rounder2u]

Hi CroissantOrange

You mean the Bb to F should be Bb to F minor?

A sheet music transcription of the chord voicings at songtrellis(dot)com and also 'The Real Book II' use Bb and F.

But as for chord changes during the solo for the A part, it starts with F minor. The A section chords are F min, Ab9, G7, C7 according to The Real Book II.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[jazzavox]

Very nice!

[rounder2u]

Thanks jazzavox!

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[rounder2u]

Thanks overlordspencerman!

You got me curious and I just checked out if I could find some chords for Moanin'. First I found a sheet music transcription of the chord voicings at songtrellis(dot)com and then I also found the song in the 'not so official' The Real Book II. Both places use Bb and F.

But as for chord changes during the solo for the A part, it starts with F minor. The A section chords are F min, Ab9, G7, C7 according to The Real Book II.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[overlordspencerman]

@rounder2u If I remember correctly it is Bb major and then F minor. Your version sounds fine though, it's just that, to me, the song is in a minor feel and groove. I base this on my opinion of how it sounds - apparently though the idea for the song came from so what.

[rounder2u]

Thanks bemaniac!

It's good to hear that you found this video of use for your own playing.

I like too see hands movements myself, and I record with an overhead camcorder view in case others also do that.

To get you going improvising I would suggest you to use the modern dorian scale in the key of F during the A part of the song. For the B part you can go for F blues pentatonic, but remember to play directly against the Gm7 and C7 during the last two bars of the B part.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[bemaniac2]

I've learnt almost half of this from watching your video now! This is so good! Its really useful for a relative beginner like me to see exactly where your fingers go as I still struggle to hear the notes sometimes. Just wondering what simple chords or scales would be good to improvise with on this.

[rounder2u]

Hi overlordspencerman

Do you mean those two Bb and F repeated chords in the A section of the song, where both the Bb and the F are major chords? My answer is that those chords are what I hear in the song. I hope I understood your question correctly.

Keep swinging,

Rounder

[overlordspencerman]

Why are you resolving the two chord response in the right hand to a major?