Garage a Trois

Since parting ways with mind-bogglingly proficient guitarist Charlie Hunter in 2007, instrumental four-piece Garage a Trois has become a full-on rock unit, raring to riff and bash where it used to jazz and funk. Touring in support of Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil, its second album with Marco Benevento, the group has come a long way in just four years. There’s less of an emphasis on soloing now; the magic is in the deep, compact writing, and the power of playing like you mean it.