Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe performs tomorrow night at 9:30 Club.

Jam bands always draw strong reactions from music fans. Detractors find nothing but monotony in the flights of fancy that turn what should be a tight pop song into a thirty minute exercise in self-indulgence. Those of us who enjoy these bands appreciate the interaction and creativity that goes into extended improvisation. Admittedly, a lot of these groups aren’t that good, not because there is something wrong with genre, but rather they lack the chops and sense of groove to keep things interesting. Veterans who have made careers in this scene understand that all the musical choices must be made with a sense of balance in mind.

“When I started out out of college, I was going to be an avant-garde jazz saxophonist,” said Karl Denson, whose band, Tiny Universe, will be playing tomorrow night at the 9:30 Club. “But I always liked dance music and soul and funk, and once I realized that I wanted to play music that people enjoyed listening to more than playing, it seemed like this was how to go.”

The 57-year-old Denson’s first break came in the late ’80s and early ’90s when he played with rocker Lenny Kravitz. He broke away from the rock scene as acid jazz was becoming increasingly popular and was a founding member of the Greyboy Allstars in 1994. That gave Denson enough notoriety to strike out on his own. He has put out a number of albums in the past 15 years with varied lineups, and Tiny Universe has existed in changing iterations since the late ’90s. No matter the band he’s playing with, Denson is a reliable draw on both the club and festival circuits.

“I just do what I like,” he said in a recent interview with DCist. “Whether I’m dipping into a rock n’ roll vein or an R&B vein, it’s always about keeping the dance aspect.”

The band’s newest effort, New Ammo, is now available through electronic outlets and will be released in physical form next Tuesday. The largely original set features guest vocalists on some tracks, as well as a funky take on The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” In addition to Denson’s saxophone and flute, Friday’s instrumentation will include trumpet, bass, drums, guitar and keyboards. For Denson, this recording and the current lineup represent a more settled period for Tiny Universe where the group can develop a true ensemble sound.

“To make it feel natural, you have to give up some of your control,” Denson explained. “The new record, what I like about it and what I feel like what we’ve achieved is that it’s a band record. Before it was just my vision.”

Tomorrow’s set will be heavy on songs from New Ammo and will also include covers and unrecorded material. Denson’s main goal is just to please the audience and make sure that everyone has a good time. Outside of that, he also has one more stop to make before he leaves the District.

“Literally, when I think about any town that I come to on a regular basis, I have a food that I associate with it,” Denson joked. “For D.C., it’s Negril.”

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe will perform at 9:30 Club on Friday, January 31, 2014 with openers Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Tauk. 8 p.m. doors. Tickets $25.