The final recording by the second version of
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers features trumpeter
Bill Hardman, tenor saxophonist
Johnny Griffin, either
Junior Mance or
Sam Dockery on piano and bassist
Spanky DeBrest along with leader/drummer
Blakey performing four group originals, two
Jimmy Heath compositions and the obscure "Late Spring." Although this was not the most famous edition of
The Messengers, it set a standard that its successors would uphold to, training its members to be bandleaders in their own right. The music on this album is typical hard bop of the period, well played and full of enthusiasm and fire.