Denson's touring ensemble lacks a DJ, but still focuses on the music from "Dance Lesson #2"; the group, called Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, consists of guitarist Brian Jordan, trumpeter Andy Cleaves, bassist Ron Johnson, keyboardist David Veith and drummer Eric Bolivar.

Denson is best known to pop audiences for his work with Lenny Kravitz on Kravitz's albums "Let Love Rule" and "Mama Said." He later played with American acid-jazz group, Greyboy Allstars, before focusing on a solo career. Like the Medeski, Martin & Wood trio, Denson has seen his jazz cross over substantially with a jam-band audience--an association strengthened by the So Many Roads experience, and by his contributing to String Cheese Incident's recent album, "Outside Inside."

When they get to New Orleans, Denson and company will hook up with the one-day Voodoo Music Experience festival (9/27), featuring Tool, the Black Crowes, Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliot and Better Than Ezra. That evening, the group will perform a concert at the city's Saenger Theatre. The next day they will play at the nearby House of Blues.

Denson and Tiny Universe are also scheduled for two-day stints in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Charleston, S.C.

The three Northwest dates of Denson's tour will feature opening guest Garaj Mahal, a quartet that includes accomplished guitarist Fareed Haque.