The Smoogies is a South Florida-based band of musicians who have been performing their progressive, often melodic, rhythmic and electronically bent style of jazz for a number of years. The talented guys, Vaughan Henry on keyboards and vocoder, Dion Kerr on bass, Harvel Nakundi on percussion and drums and David Chiverton on drums, hooked up with trumpeter Nicholas Payton through Instagram for their debut album, Planet Smoogies. Payton is heard on five of the seven original selections penned by the bandmembers.

It’s a match-up that definitely works as heard on the opening number, the funky “Pay Up.” The energy of the ensemble, led here primarily by the keyboardist and the tune’s composer, builds before Payton steps up to add further funk and swagger.

Each tune boasts its own distinctive flavor. For example, Kerr’s “Blender Spaceship,” has a rather spacy orchestral overtone with Payton’s trumpet and Henry’s vocoder echoing each other. “Colorful Himalayas” opens with just composer Nakundi’s percussion then moves to the upbeat, danceable, heart of the tune with Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

A beauty on the album, “Hope Is Valid,” is also penned by Nakundi. The band starts the melodic ballad soft and slow with bassist Kerr soon taking the spotlight. Payton’s brilliant blowing retains the initial romantic mood before the hugely talented trumpeter passionately changes it to sheer exaltation. The band, that boasts two full-on drummers, follows his powerful lead. Quietude of romance returns.

Considering its rather hilarious name, one discovers that Planet Smoogies is a celestial body of varying terrains and well worth a visit.