The whole mythology that’s attached to Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers essentially revolves around the numerous albums they recorded for Blue Note and often sidesteps albums taped for many other labels including Columbia and RCA’s subsidiary, Vik. Once Horace Silver quit the original line-up he not only took most of the personnel with him but also all the material with which he would successfully furnish his own hit- making quintet. This situation left Blakey with the task of rebuilding his band from the bottom up. This he did, but it wasn’t until 1958 before he had enrolled suitable musical directors – first Benny Golson quickly followed by Wayne Shorter. Between them they would elevate The Messengers’ stature internationally. Before all this was to take place, Donald Byrd and Bill Hardman took over trumpet duties leaving firebrands Jackie McLean and/or Johnny Griffin to stamp their identities on the Messengers’ full on hard bop format. However, when in 1958 Benny Golson became the band’s MD and refurbished the line-up with Lee Morgan, Bobby Timmons and Jymie Merritt, the group took a quantum leap which is vividly captured on one of the finest live albums ever Au Club St. Germain – two discs that include ‘Whisper Not’, ‘Moanin’, ‘Blues March’. Again it would be all change when Wayne Shorter took over from Golson and Walter Davis Jr was installed as the new pianist. That was when they again redefined the genre to perfection. And, in keeping with most line-ups they flecked a collective muscle with heart-stopping versions of ‘A Night In Tunisia.’ This box contains five performances! Foot Note: This eight-disc package proclaims the entire Columbia and RCA albums but conspicuous by its absence is the album of standards that The Messengers recorded with Dutch vocalist Rita Reyes back in 1956.