Karl Hector and the Malcouns comfortably blend music of all kinds in a jazz-inspired effort to stimulate your senses. Sahara Swing is an aptly named, dry movement of spunky sax and rhythmic beats, conjuring images of an old world big band somehow misplaced in an arid desert. The sounds are muffled echoes of warm brass instruments, with only a hint of cooling keyboard and bells. There’s also a synthesizing tone to the music, making it sound sort of technologically advanced. The fusion makes this album jazz for the modern age.

On the song “Sahara Swing,” jazz deviates into rock with a funky guitar. Howling voices sound like desert wanderers on “Psycles”.If you’re not into jazz, I’d still suggest a listening: the nuances of the rock and soul influences make this jazz atypical in its fused complexity. The varied development allows room to question the music. It’s not the jazz of your grandparents. Beyond the confines of stereotypical genre rules, there’s more than meets the ear in Sahara Swing as the sounds develop.

- Alexandra Bregman