The bassist Billy Mohler’s jazz chops are not in dispute, having initially graduated from Berklee and the Thelonious Monk Institute. Even if he did dive headfirst into the LA rock scene initially, as a member of band The Calling, and later recording and performing with an A-list selection of stellar artists that’s included everyone from Macy Gray and Lady Gaga through to Dolly Parton and Aerosmith's Steve Tyler.

Being entirely swamped with work then, possibly explains Mohler’s reticence to lead his own band as Ultraviolet is only his third album to date. But alongside the influential drummer Nate Wood, Mohler boldly revs up an electric set of his originals with a series of ominously grinding, grunge-funk grooves that point more to his roots in alt./blues-rock than jazz.

But the compositions are also effective springboards for imaginatively gritty, cohesive solos by alt. jazzers - trumpeter Shane Endsley and saxophonist Chris Speed - that grow naturally from the material. Compositionally Mohler keeps it simple with African/alt-rock/Ornette-era influenced themes that are languid yet penetrating. As a consequence, Ultraviolet represents a notable upgrade on the pretty unexceptional album Anatomy released last year. Additional real-time studio effects and ‘live’ quality production values deepen the feel of spontaneity which is excitedly palpable throughout the record.