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Former Thin White Rope guitarist Roger Kunkel goes the Dennison-Kimball route, trading in his distortion box for a chance to flaunt his bop chops at the beret-and-shades crowd. The result is kind of a saxless Lounge Lizards, with multi-horn guy John Killebrew chipping in the cool with his mostly muted trumpet.

No one is likely to confuse Kunkel with Django Reinhardt, but his Spanish accents and fluid, understated picking come in handy, especially on "Al Monday," which creates an elegant surf-jazz combo platter that rekindles an echo or two from Thin White Rope's all-time best song, "Red Sun."

The ensemble playing is slick and sexy, while the moods evoked are rich and varied, from the barely conscious groove of "Sleep Waltz," to the joyous clatter of "High Centurians." --JOHN CHANDLER

In the '80s, there was a skull-bending combo out of Davis, Calif., called Thin White Rope. The band was big in Europe, but couldn't get a parking ticket in the United States. Even though the creator of much of the band's guitar frenzy, Roger Kunkel, plucks his axe nowadays for the Acme Rocket Quartet, this band bears no resemblance to the Rope. Not to say this isn't a little dangerous in its own way. Acme Rocket is an instrumental attempt at recreating the shifting tonalities of New Thing jazzbos like Archie Shepp or Roswell Rudd. But ARQ gets its collective foot in the door via the more traditional jazz patterns of Charles Mingus, working off something as unexpected as John Barry soundtrack moves and background blurps from a tone generator and an ARP Explorer. But "Al Monday" borrows a few "Lonely Bull" moves from Herb Alpert, and "Sleep Waltz" is as comforting as anything by Bill Evans or Randy Weston. If you've always wanted to buy a jazz album but thought the stuff was too deep, use the Acme Rocket Quartet as a crutch. Who knows where you might hobble? --JUD COST

Acme Rocket Quartet's CD appeared in the mail a while back with little ceremony or information. Not to be confused with the English band that goes under the moniker Acme Rocket, Acme Rocket Quartet is Roger Kunkel's new project out of Davis, California. Kunkel was the non-singing guitarist in Thin White Rope, yet another brilliant band that never got the recognition it deserved.

Leaving behind the sonic mayhem of his previous band, Kunkel is now slinging guitar in an instrumental lounge band composed of bass, drum, guitar, and horns. Although the vibe for most of the originals is mellow and subdued, the medley of Carl Stalling/Raymond Scott tunes swings hard and deep. There is an overall playfulness that comes through in ARQ's compositions, especially when John Killebrew's horn plays foil to Kunkel's guitar leads. Add to the mix a loose jazzy feel that sometimes dips south of the border and a reverb-soaked twang and you get the Acme recipe. Highlights include "Arpcicle," whose straight swing is threaded with some odd sounds, the expansive sounding "Al Monday," and the lament "Vengeance Of The Loin."

Acme Rocket Quartet possesses none of the faux sophistication of the lounge scene; instead, the band plays subtle music that is stark in its beauty and refined in its tone.--TAD HENDRICKSON

Combine elements from swing, surf, big band, rockabilly, jazz and the style of '50s B-movies soundtracks and you have an idea of what Acme Rocket Quartet is about. This Northern California quartet consisting of Steve Edberg on drums and percussion; John Killebrew on trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet; Roger Kunkel on guitar and David Thompson on bass effortlessly combines many different musical elements into some of the most original music stylings heard in a long time.

The songs; all of which are instrumental; could serve as soundtracks for B-movies and some of the titles such as "Clown Theft Auto" and "Benefit Night" sound like they could be the titles to B-movies.

"Al Monday," "Clown Theft Auto," and "Arpcicle" are anchored by a great jazz-like backbeat that allows the band to wander in any direction it wants without anything sounding forced. Acme also does a great take on the music from Warner Bros. cartoons on "Stalling-Scott Confusion."

The albums does have a couple of low spots in "El Baño De Amor" and "High Centurions." These songs don't have the structure of the other songs and end up sounding too experimental and directionless. Still, one of the best local albums I have heard this year.--B.D.

Acme Rocket Quartet blasts off from the launching pad with the release of this self-titled CD. Acme's special brand of improvisational jazz is cool enough to lift you into orbit, with each member of the quartet providing stellar musicianship. Guitarist Roger Kunkel picks out some intriguing lines in a tone quite unlike his Thin White Rope days, while brass player John Killebrew blows up some biting melodies that sink their teeth into your consciousness. Bassist Dave Thompson provides a firm foundation, holding things together when they threaten to get too disjointed and drummer Steve Edberg is the kind of percussionist who manages to always come up with some intricate rhythmic enticement to grab your ears, all the while providing a rock-steady beat. The songs here could have been a little more concise, but that's just a small quibble. Even in free-float, Acme always has something going on worth listening to. Mission control to Acme: "You're looking good!"--CARY RODDA

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