*** The Greyboy Allstars

A TOWN CALLED EARTH

(Greyboy)

Like Medeski, Martin and Wood, the Greyboy Allstars mold jazz funk into a neo-hippie context, creating tasteful and accessible instrumental grooves. With sax, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, and occasional flute, the Allstars tackle Booker T.-style grooves ("Sportscaster"), ramble through the James Brown-inspired "Toys `R' Us," and relax into the loping groove of "Planet of the Superkids," which recalls Blue Note funk of the late '60s à la Lou Donaldson.

They do lose their place sometimes -- the Indian-flavored title track wanders aimlessly for more than 15 minutes. But absorbing solos abound. Guitarist Elgin Park's refined leads dominate the peppy "Happy Friends," and the Allmans-inflected "Quantico, VA" showcases keyboardist Robert Walter's nimble fingers. Nothing brazenly inventive emerges -- the Greyboy Allstars draw more from Trey than Trane, funking up jazz for an audience bred on jam bands. But there are few wasted notes, and this disc resonates with healthy respect for the music the Greyboy Allstars draw on.

-- Dan Tobin