“But it's thanks to Doria's composition that the album isn't simply a showcase of soloists - it's also a collection of well-written songs. Its dynamics are thought out and tweaked to perfection, an impressive feat considering the amount of improvisation.” –Coby Tamayo, Weekly Volcano, April 30, 2010

At times, you’d swear you were in your brother’s basement grooving out to classic ‘70s acid rock in a bump and grind. At others, front row center before a mad-wicked British thrasher set, or your grandmother’s Bar Mitzvah.

The brilliance of Seattle’s popular jazz-avante garde fusion band – McTuff – is that it’s about celebrating all kinds of music. A world of music and musicianship can often be found in a single McTuff treatise.

Their 2009 CD release, “McTuff – Volume 1,” puts a fine point on the band philosophy of playing to every style of music there is, and with an ear toward doing it differently every time.

In lesser hands, doing a CD of nine songs that encompass various musical styles might turn out schizophrenic, unfinished, and overly ambitious. But this is McTuff, an accomplished band that’s been around the block and proven itself as an audience favorite for a reason. Each musician here is a cult icon on his own: Joe Doria on Hammond, Skerik-sax, Andy Coe-guitar, D’Vonne Lewis-drums. Together, they put most other improvisational bands of any stripe to shame.

In a league not of this earth, these guys are uniquely able to put on a mind-blowing show in the smallest moments, the sparest of notes, knowing when to fall back, and when to go nuts. Most of the tunes on this groundbreaking CD were written by the band leader, Doria, with “Tuff Love” by Coe. The one song by John Lennon, “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” simply gets absorbed into the improvisational machine and becomes a McTuff original.

“She’s So Heavy” starts off startlingly enough with the sound of a lion growling menacingly, then segues into a bluesy riff before exploding into something else altogether, something the1960s British blues-rock band Cream might get into. It’s pure mind candy.

“Seven Bullets” is another song that starts off one way (psychedelic ‘60s chic) then meanders naturally into musical rabbit holes, Doria’s Hammond organ releasing an almost church-like vibe before digressing into a cartoonish, Yiddish salsa.

“Arrow Tip” goes everywhere but settles into a love song for drummer Lewis. Here, he shows his flair for fast, focused, finesse, fluttering above his instruments like a roaming butterfly, tapping into a universal chasm of groove.

My favorite song of them all is by precision-guitarist Andy Coe, called “Tuff Love.” This song just rocks the hell out from front to back, as Coe lays his tracks down, with the band members gamely following, mirroring along. Coe’s and Skerik’s fast-paced, pumping guitar and sax riffs just vibe all over the place, a contagion for those who love to move their feet and dance in place. After the first half of a mostly mild-mannered romp, here comes Skerik on sax, just taking the vibe up another level with a fantastic R&B-meets-relentless rockin’ pace. His sax gives way to drummer Lewis, who thrashes his skins to the point of no return. Of all the songs, this one’s McTuff’s signature. The song ends exactly as it began, with a return to the mild-mannered romp reminiscent of a Johnny Carson variety show.

If you can, go see McTuff live. Their CD is but a sample of what they can do onstage. They regularly gig at Wallingford/Seattle’s Seamonster Lounge, Tuesday nights, 10 p.m.