Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers were one of the most prominent ensembles in hard bop. Led by drummer Art Blakey, the group's members included (at one time or another) Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Johnny Griffin, Jackie McLean, Donald Byrd, Bobby Timmons, Cedar Walton, Benny Golson, Joanne Brackeen, Billy Harper, Valery Ponomarev, Bill Pierce, Branford Marsalis, James Williams, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, and Chuck Mangione, and Amie Street's own Wynton Marsalis to name a few.

features live recordings from 2 separate occasions with different horn players performing on each recording. Despite the lineup changes, Blakey's fierce drumming fuels the fire for these classic performances.