Eclectic Show From Mingus Amungus

How can a band that is collectively hard-swinging, with a full cadre of imaginative individual soloists, possess such a low profile that it is virtually unknown beyond its San Francisco home? It’s a question that kept coming to mind while hearing the colorfully and appropriately named group Mingus Amungus on Wednesday at the Jazz Bakery in the opening set of a five-night run.

And it’s a question without a reasonable answer. Performing before a sparse crowd, Mingus Amungus--whose interests, despite its label, reach well beyond the music of Charles Mingus--offered one of the most consistently rewarding jazz appearances of the year. The seven-piece band is one of the undiscovered wonders of the jazz world, a group with the capacity to combine probing jazz improvisation and hard-swinging ensemble work within a framework capable of reaching out to the non-jazz audience.

The best examples of the Mingus Amungus eclecticism took place at the beginning and end of the set. The performance opened when percussionist Raymond Graham walked on stage to set up a shimmering rhythm on a large, bead-wrapped gourd shaker. A few minutes later, he was joined by the other band members, who walked on stage singing a roots-like melody. At this point, the music could have gone in a variety of directions, from Latin America to New Orleans. But the transition was even more dramatic, as the players went to their instruments and, driven by leader Miles Perkins’ bass, immediately kicked into a driving rendition of Mingus’ stirring “Better Git It in Your Soul.”

For the closing numbers, Mingus Amungus was joined by dancer Heather Watkins and rapper Martin “Drosa” Reynolds. And the interaction between the engaging rap patterns and the music’s swing was irresistible. Enhanced by Reynold’s musicality, his occasional insertion of blues-like phrases and shouts, it was a rare example of jazz and rap finding an amiable common ground.

In between the opening and closing, the band played Mingus numbers as well as originals, enhancing each with dynamic soloing from trumpeter Gavin Distassi, tenor saxophonist Joshi Marshall, trombonist Mary Wehner and keyboardist Muziki Roberson. And drummer Steve Rossi, driving the band with swing, energy and musicality, managed the rare feat of adjusting to the venue’s difficult acoustics without losing his dynamic center.

* Mingus Amungus at the Jazz Bakery through Sunday. 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. (310) 271-9039. $20 admission tonight and Sunday at 8 and 9:30 p.m., and $18 Sunday at 7 and 8:30 p.m.