Just prior to forming the first edition of The Jazz Messengers, drummer Art Blakey led a superb quintet at Birdland for a brief gig in 1954. The band featured the great trumpeter Clifford Brown, altoist Lou Donaldson, pianist Horace Silver, and bassist Curly Russell in addition to the leader/drummer. Classic bop.
these two live records are so unbelievably great; some of the best jazz i've ever heard, and i've heard quite a bit, at least for someone in my age & class group