The Sardonics, one of Sacramento?s preeminent jazz ensembles, will perform for the masses at the Serna Plaza today at noon.

The band has been tabbed as “one of the best up-and-coming bands,” by Todd Jenkins of Jazz Magazine and Resource, and have been nominated for best jazz group in the 2002 Sammies (Sacramento Area Music Awards).

The group plays a schizophrenic style of jazz, which merges traditional jazz with Latin, “free-bop,” funk/groove and an avant-garde, sort of like a jazzy Mr. Bungle, minus the vocals. Some of the group?s influences include the music of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Frank Zappa, Medeski, Martin and Wood, and Sun Ra.

“We tend to listen to anything that can take a listener on a journey from the beginning to the end of the song,” guitarist Ross Hammond said.

The four members of the group have served time in other local jazz institutions. Saxophonist Aaron Thurman was involved with 11:11 and Delta Headtrip. He also played in the 1999 Sammie award-winning band for best jazz group, Chill E. Palmer Project, which was founded by current bandmate Hammond. Presently, he splits time between the band and several Sac State jazz ensembles.

Hammond, a Sac State graduate, is music teacher by day and virtuoso guitarist by night. Drummer Todd Temby has fronted the funk band Budj Beatkus, and played in Bub Orchestra and Delta Headtrip. Bassist Aaron Weiss, also a Delta Headtrip alumnus, has played with Ugly Sticks.

The group is in the midst of an emergent local jazz scene, which gives people an alternative to the mindless drool that is beat into their heads via commercial media.

“There are a lot of listeners that want to hear something different than what the radio is putting out,” Hammond said. “There?s a pretty nice jazz/jam/improve scene that gets good support.”

Some of the venues that feature The Sardonics and other various jazz groups include The Fox and Goose, True Love Cafe, Luna?s, and Sac State. “We played CSUS last year, and the crowd was very supportive. They are usually pretty open-minded.”

The Sardonics have released two CDs: “Catch the Red Eye,” a full-length album, and a five-song EP. They will release a live CD at the True Love Cafe on June 8.

The Sardonics? Web site is currently down, but more information can be gathered through the group?s e-mail list at [email protected].