Hailing from the free-form jazz and improvised hip-hop roots of San Francisco, Alphabet Soup came a long way before having a chance to play at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Fronted by the duo MCs of CB and Blake, their politically charged rantings flow to the background of Wilbur Krebs (lead bass), Sammy Biggers (bass), Kenny Brooks (saxophone), Dred Scott (keyboards), and Jay Lane (drums and formerly of the Charlie Hunter Trio and Sausage). With their album collection including Davis, Coltrane, KRS-One, and Public Enemy, Mammoth Records took notice and released their 1998 debut "Layin' Low in the Cut."