Karl Denson
Spirited openers Chali 2na and House of Vibe will help the crowd step into Denson's giant sonic world on Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Fillmore. 9 p.m. $25; www.thefillmore.com.
Watching Karl Denson's Tiny Universe perform feels like an optical and auditory illusion: You can't help but ponder how the sax of bandleader and former Lenny Kravitz affiliate Denson melds so thoroughly with Chris Littlefield's trumpet that both seem like one seamless instrument. That surprising synthesis is testament to the clean and tight sound put out by this six-piece San Diego funk group. Denson also has a warm, booming voice that soars on songs like "Brother's Keeper," from the band's recent album of the same name.