Hip hop merged so nicely with jazz and soul that it's seamless. US 3 are a British duo with three American rappers and a variety of live musicians. (Plus, since it's on Blue Note, they get to sample the greats.) The Brits have been on the acid-jazz tip for a while and this mellow dance CD is perfect for friendly bopping around the kitchen. The rapping can be merely adequate and lacks any real edge. The beats are a bit too straightforward, too. While US 3's take on jazz history is well-crafted, I'm still left wondering when we're going to see artists who do for hiphop what Dolphy, Taylor and Braxton did for jazz. (Todd Morman)