Last Wednesday at Rockwood Music hall Stage 2 pulsated with the smooth, soulful sounds of Brooklyn-born Aabaraki. Recently, the quartet self-released an EP downloadable on Bandcamp and showcased several of these tracks which oozed seduction, jazz, R&B, soul, and not-so-subtle double entendres, at the jam packed show. One highlight, “Girl,” slinked along with sultry syncopated guitar slides and impassioned vocals. Tri-part harmonies opened “Haters” and interchanged with solo sexy vocal runs and instrumental accompaniment. Hushed guitars and drums snuck up on listeners during “Terrified” and spotlighted vocalist Aamir Bermiss’s impressively expressive vocal range. The audience screamed with delight as the band began the obvious favorite, “Karate,” a song full of innuendos rhymed with various martial arts names backed by the band’s fusion style. “Happy Ending” embarked on another soulful sound journey with samba beats that relaxed into ringing guitars that bloom into an energetic funk bridge. Be sure to catch Aabaraki live as they bring the groove back to NYC music. –Meijin Bruttomesso