I’ve got good news and bad news about the debut album from the cheekily named Chunky Hustle Brass Band. First off, the San Diego outfit has written some songs that could be destined to be part of the brass band canon. They also have an original touch with cover songs.

Unfortunately, listeners have to wade through six short, mostly nonsensical interludes—were recorded at a show—to get to the actual music. Once you’ve heard the dad joke about the pirate and berry farmer, you will dread hearing it again.

But let’s get to the good stuff. The first original, “Blues for Ben,” composed by trumpeter and guitar player Benjamin Fox, jumps out of the speakers. This band is tight with a percolating tuba and ensemble horn parts that are right in the sweet spot for anyone who loves a New Orleans brass band groove.

“Just Enough,” by tuba player Aaron Gregg, starts with a funky wah-wah guitar. With three saxophones, two trumpets and a trombone, the horns create a dense wall, right until they drop out for a tasty guitar solo. Alan Cheatham follows with a strong tenor sax solo.

Trumpeter Jordan Adams arranges three of the four covers on CHuBB and his work displays a close familiarity with ensemble playing of high school and college marching bands. His version of “Knocks Me Off My Feet” exposes some of the pathos in Stevie Wonder’s classic before coming full circle back to the familiar melody.

I had no idea “…Baby One More Time,” the Britney Spears hit, had such a cool melody, but then again, the song and the artist are way outside my demographic. Yet, the band rips it.

For a group so steeped in New Orleans tradition, a local cover is almost a given. They do a more than credible version of “St. James Infirmary,” taking the chestnut from its saddest, muted-horn depths to an exuberant finish. Trombonist Rebecca McKinley handles the vocals with soul—like the playing of the rest of the band.