Jazz Messengers eager to spread the word

The genuflection in the name of tribute band

Our Father Who Art Blakey

is entirely appropriate. After all, drummer and bandleader Blakey begat several generations of jazz innovators over the more than three decades with his Jazz Messengers, which gave early exposure to future legends from Wayne Shorter and Lee Morgan to Wynton Marsalis and Terence Blanchard.

While there have been more famous Messengers lineups, the three-horn front line of alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, tenor saxophonist Dave Schnitter and trumpeter Valery Ponomarev was one of the longest-lasting. That undersung version reunites in tribute to their late mentor. This will be a particularly poignant performance with the absence of two fellow ex-Messengers: bassist Dennis Irwin passed away this week, and pianist Ronnie Matthews has health issues. Instead, the rhythm section will consist of a new guard following in the Messengers' hard-bop footsteps: Curtis Lundy on bass, Philly's Orrin Evans on piano and Jerome Jennings facing the daunting task of taking up Blakey's sticks.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street & Ben Franklin Pkwy., 5:45 and 7:15 tonight, free with regular museum admission of $14, 215-763-8100, www.philamuseum.org.

- Shaun Brady