Aphrokubist Improvisations, Vol. 9

Don't let the album title, silly concepts, or the fact that this promising debut is on an ambient/dance label fool you: If you are into the more populist directions that the new school of jam-friendly jazz (Medeski Martin & Wood, Charlie Hunter, etc.) is taking, this CD is sure to please. The group is essentially a trio, with David Boyce (aka Black Edgar Kenyatta) on sax, keyboards, and vocals; Kevin Carnes (aka Borris Karnaz) on drums, percussion, and vocals; and Ayman Mobarek (aka Ayman Rastabebish) on bass. But they also get by with a little help from their friends, serving up a heady mixture of jazz, psychedelia, funk, and spoken word poetry that has a little something for everyone.