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*** Greyboy

MASTERED THE ART

(Ubiquity)

Acid jazz sounds like such an antiquated term, but it’s still the best description for Greyboy’s combination of obscure samples, chunky hip-hop loops, and live jazz improvisation. The sound is less revelatory than it was in 1994, when the San Diego–based producer hooked up with saxophonist Karl Denson for the classic Freestylin’ (Ubiquity) album, but Mastered the Art proves that the much-maligned genre still has some life in it — mostly because Greyboy has an eye for compositional detail and fluid arranging that eludes many of his peers. His productions breathe like real songs, with intros, hooks, solos, and bridges; the melodies aren’t just distractions from the beat, they carry the listener through the tune.

Although a handful of cuts feature guest MCs (Main Flow, Muddie), Mastered the Art is most compelling when Greyboy keeps it instrumental, focusing on his lush production style — call it European Romanticism meets b-boy minimalism. Those minor-key harmonicas, cooing vocals, and Spanish guitars might conjure Ennio Morricone or Lalo Schifrin, but the jagged drum loops are straight-up hip-hop. Vibraphonist Dave Pike and guitarist Elgin Park provide the appropriate instrumental flourishes while Greyboy keeps delivering the sound that’s fueled countless cocktail hours.

— Michael Endelman