Over nearly two years of gigging, Have Soul Will Travel has steadily carved out a groove that is 70 percent funk, 30 percent broad-minded modern jazz and 100 percent Big Easy. The quintet works teritory not unlike Medeski, Martin & Wood, if that trio traded New York for New Orleans and its keyboards for a guitar, saxophone and trumpet.

On Halloween Night 2001, Have Soul Will Travel recorded two sets at the Funky Butt that became "Live at the Funky Butt," the quintet's new, debut CD. Guitarist Bert Cotton, trumpeter Eric Lucero, drummer Kevin O'Day, saxophonist Brent Rose and bassist Tommy Sciple (who has been since replaced by Cassandra Faulconer since the recording) all gig with multiple bands. They bring these myriad influences to bear throughout "Live."

Cotton's guitar is dressed up with all mannor of cool effects, from the quivering, watery sound on "the Worm" to the organ-like tones of his own "U Say," which also features a bold tenor sax solo by Rose. The saxophonist's horn-heavy "the Big Worm" could find a place in the Rebirth Brass Band's repertoire, if the song's tempo were doubled.

The band turns in a sedate study of James Brown's "Ain't It Funky Now," but the skittering funk kicks into high gear on Lucero's aptly named "I B Funked Up," which features a disjointed solo by Cotton before the horns veer into free-jazz territory. This excursion is merely a warm-up for "The Free Slave," the 11 minute version of a vintage 1960's Roy Brooks composition that closes out the disc with a final excursion into deep funk-jazz.

by music writer: Keith Spera