Hometown -- Annapolis

Current members --Marty Bouchard, drums; Larry Byrne, organ; Matt Dalton, tenor and alto saxophone; Jason Crawford, vocals and percussion

Founded in --2003

Style --jazz funk

Influenced by --Bill Withers, Jaco Pastorius, Sergei Rachmaninov, Billy Cobham and Mos Def

Notable --The group recently finished mastering its debut record, which features 11 originals and one cover -- of a Bobby Hutcherson tune. The originals span multiple genres, from straight jazz songs to hip-hop fusion tracks.

Quotable --"There's such a connectedness between funk and jazz and hip-hop and soul music," Crawford said. "None of it gets too far outside of the other style. There's kind of a unified groove there that I think carries throughout all of the styles."

See The Higher Hands tonight at the 8x10, 8-10 E. Cross St. Admission is $12 in advance and $14 at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m.; the music starts at 9 p.m. The New Mastersounds will also perform. Call 410-625-2000 or go to the8x10.com. The band: myspace.com/thehigherhands.