Garaj Mahal

Garaj Mahal is a band for listeners able to mainline Bela Fleck without experiencing irregular breathing or bulging eyes. This four-piece "jam-band supergroup" -- whose collabos include Chick Corea, Sting and Fleck -- is an exercise in musicians going wacko with technicality by marrying complex jazz parts to a groove you can shake it to. Even if jam bands or modern funksters aren't your cup of chai, you'd be surprised how much fun you can have in the Garaj. The quartet is catchy beyond reason. This ain't noodling for its own sake (and anyway, they're tasty noodles); this is tripped-out jam music that works just as well with sobriety as it does any chemical stimulant. And that's a serious compliment.