The team of Christopher Palmer/tb, Aaron Bahr/tp, Zac Zinger/sax, Michael Bates/b, Rob Garcia/dr and pianist Tetsuro Hoshiii mix post bop modal themes with classic and traditional grooves on this wide ranging and accessible album. Snappy drums a la New Orleans lead things off with a joyful “Happy Dog” while the rhythm teams shows it can boogaloo on”Dacadandan.” Soulful pulsations on “Happiest Cat” and a fun blues on “Old Clock” feature some nice trombone work by Palmer, and he plunges on “Sunset” while Zinger taps into his inner Coltrane on the modal “Qui Rock.” An elegiac front line of horns form without the rhythm team on the velvety “Brass Hymn” and Hoshii goes from ragtime on “Bourgeoisie” to double time on “Howdy Cats!” A live feel for a bunch of live wires.