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The Moontrane is the third album led by trumpeter Woody Shaw which was recorded in 1974 and released on the Muse label. The Moontrane was released as part of Woody Shaw: The Complete Muse Sessions by Mosaic Records in 2013.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4.5 stars and stated:”Although he never received the notoriety of Freddie Hubbard or (at the time) Chuck Mangione, Woody Shaw was one of the leading trumpeters of the 1970s. The Moontrane is a strong date by one of Shaw’s finest units, a band including Azar Lawrence on tenor and soprano, the up-and-coming trombonist Steve Turre, keyboardist Onaje Allen Gumbs, either Buster Williams or Cecil McBee on bass, drummer Victor Lewis, Tony Waters on congas and percussionist Guilherme Franco. Although none of the group originals (best known is the leader’s “Moontrane”) caught on, the adventurous music still sounds stimulating more than two decades later. Recommended.”

Track listing
All compositions by Woody Shaw except as indicated

“The Moontrane” – 6:54
“Sanyas” (Steve Turre) – 13:05
“Tapscott’s Blues” (Azar Lawrence) – 6:41
“Katrina Ballerina” – 7:36
“Are They Only Dreams?” (Onaje Allan Gumbs) – 9:12

Personnel
Woody Shaw – trumpet
Steve Turre – trombone
Azar Lawrence – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Onaje Allan Gumbs – piano, electric piano
Cecil McBee (tracks 2–4), Buster Williams (tracks 1 & 5) – bass
Victor Lewis – drums
Guilherme Franco – percussion (tracks 2, 4, 5), Tony Waters (tracks 2, 4, 5 ) – percussion

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Released: 1975
Recorded: December 11 & 18, 1974
Studio: Blue Rock Studios, New York City
Length: 58:19
Label: Muse
Producer: Michael Cuscuna