Jazz lovers often lament the fact that the genre does not enjoy more widespread appeal. It’s no mystery why that is the case, as jazz as a popular art form died the second its audience could no longer dance to it. However, there have always been musicians who understand and appreciate a strong groove while maintaining a commitment to the improvisational elements of jazz. Mocean Worker (rhymes with ocean) is such a band and last Friday they brought their brand of jazz funk to a small, but enthusiastic crowd at 9:30 Club.

MOWO, as the group is sometimes called, is the brain child of bassist/producer Adam Dorn (pictured), who creates his albums using a combination of live and sampled sounds. Dorn & Co. are touring in support of Cinco de MOWO!, a groovy delight that blends sounds from jazz’s heyday of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s with funky beats and bass lines. The CD features some notable guests including trumpeter Herb Albert, bassist Marcus Miller, and the late saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

Photo from Mocean Worker’s MySpace page