Sat. Dec. 1

Once - for a long time, really - there was a Boston jazz and funk band called the Heavy Metal Horns which, when you think about it, may have been one big misnomer of a band name. You hear the words "heavy metal" and "horns" together and something doesn't quite compute. Metallica was sax, trumpet and trombone? At any rate, the HMH are no more but front men trumpter Garret Savluk and saxophonist Henley Douglas Jr. carry on with the Boston Horns and the releawse of a new album called “Shibuya Gumbo." It features tracks with longtime Boston soul shouter Barrence Whitfield on vocals and former Soulive saxophonist Sam Kininger on alto sax. They play a record release gig at Johnny D's Saturday Dec. 1 (and also play a gig at the Acton Jazz Cafe Dec. 15).
The album title is a reference to their popularity in Japan,
but also touches on their New Orleans-style funk and soul sound.  “Shibuya City was the first city we played in Japan," says Douglas, "so the album title is a nod to that experience. There’s a photo of the Shibuya fans on the album cover. You can see that it was a sold out show.  That’s such an incredible thing to happen to any band playing in a new country for the first time.”  And as for the "gumbo," Douglas says it “refers to the traditional New Orleans dish.  It’s a mix of a lot of different ingredients that come together to create one fantastic flavor. The Boston Horns music is made the same way.  It’s a combination of many different styles of music — jazz, blues, soul and rock — and we mix it up with instrumentals and vocals.  Our music has its own unique flavor.” Says Savluk, “This is the album we've always wanted to make. Our favorite new originals mixed in with a few covers to feature Barrence’s amazing vocals and the funky talents of Sam Kininger on alto. I dare you not to groove!” Akashic Record opens at 9:30. Cover: $10.

17 Holland St., Somerville, 617-776-2004 www.johnnyds.com