Omer Avital was initially a key member of the Smalls jazz club scene in the mid-1990s working alongside pianist Jason Lindner. He’s since become a leading force among the ongoing wave of gifted Israeli-born exiles that have introduced fresh sounds to New York jazz. The new CD, Abutbul Music, resonates with the bassist- composer’s Jewish Yemenite and Moroccan roots. Themes come bursting out of the traps with the kind of sinewy dance-like Middle Eastern/Klezmer-inflected two sax horn chorus that’s occasionally reminiscent of the bassist Avishai Cohen’s initial International Vamp band. Thrown into the mix as well is a dose of latin, gospel and soul-jazz feel from the 1960s. The line-up features the Coltrane-esque soprano saxophonist Asaf Yuria and the French resident pianist Yonathan Avishai, a succinct John Lewis-influenced improviser drawing out bluesy, percussive dance rhythms from Avital’s vibrant charts. It’s an exuberant recording that hits the spot on both a spiritual and sensual level.