With their self-titled debut, Los Angeles based quintet Atria demonstrates that jazz is not only alive but is in the mood to mate. Over the course of seven tracks, the quartet explores a smooth, sensual sound which shimmers like a warm, sultry night. By incorporating Latin elements into their music, the band invokes the sweaty, sexual heat of Miami far more than Los Angeles -- and this feel hits you, time and again, right in the erogenous zone. Recorded in the tradition of true jazz -- live without punch-ins -- Atria captures the languid sex of summer in the city. In a word, this disc is hot.

While this is a group joint, each of the players brings an indispensable part of the overall sound. Saxophone duties are executed with skill by Tony Bray. At times, as with his solo in "Something You Said", he pays homage to the masterful runs of John Coltrane. Elsewhere, however, his playing is less frenetic, and it is during these calmer moments that he finds his unique voice, combining the bombast of Coltrane's interstellar space with the electricity of downtown's neon lights. As Bray's powerful counterpoint, Jeff Fields handles his trumpet with a wise grip. Clearly touched by the hand of Miles Davis, Fields also owes a debt to the urban tones of Wynton Marsalis. Throughout the tracks, his pensive horn portrays the all-knowing confidence of Barry White's croon.

As noted above, the use of Latin influences is a great part of the songs' sexual energy. Key to this feel is the Paul Luis's guitar work. His well-timed comping places the songs squarely in current jazz movement, and his reserved soloing glides with a knowing touch on songs like "Mental Floss". Michael Barrett sits in on bass and provides a solid underpinning for the horns to work over. On "Endo/Exo", he brings a dash of funk to the mix, practically daring you not to groove. Finally, drummer Don Palmer ties everything to a steady framework with his unadorned playing.

With jazz, so much importance has been placed on individual soloists that many recordings fail to explore the magic that happens when a group puts its efforts into pulling everything together. Thankfully, Atria do not make this mistake; as any of these songs show, they work as a team. This energizes both upbeat numbers like "Toro/Caballo" and slower pieces such as "Arjuna's Dilemma", and makes this debut a definite choice for the soundtrack to your next lovemaking session.