The prodigiously talented Marc Ribot needs little introduction to lovers of avant-garde jazz and unhinged rock. The guitarist has been applying his unbound sound to works by John Zorn, Elvis Costello, and Marianne Faithfull, as well as pouring himself into original compositions for the past three decades. But if you do desire an entry point into his work, a great place to start is his trio Ceramic Dog. Ribot, drummer Ches Smith, and bassist Shahzad Ismaily make for a furious combination, building off a foundation of jazz with the coiled fury of a punk outfit. It's the kind of sound that can turn an otherwise bouncy composition like Dave Brubeck's "Take Five" into something darker and seamier and much more enticing. ROBERT HAM