Swoop Unit

One of the misconceptions about jazz is that it's overly cerebral, when in fact it's the original good-time party music. The San Francisco collective Swoop Unit find the sweet spot between 1960s soul-jazz and '70s instrumental funk (think early Earth, Wind & Fire; the Meters; and Average White Band topped with a loving dose of classic organ action). The jams move, but keyboardist Paul Rustigian and bassist Steve Neil have a knack for penning hook-laden tunes. If Swoop Unit were English, they'd probably be featured on Gilles Peterson's radio show and be appreciated by the "rare groove" crowd.