Planet Groove, formed in Providence about seven years ago, plays two area shows this weekend, and will record a live disk at the Ocean Mist next month. On the band's latest disk, Joy Ride, the original songs mostly explore the musical themes of Latin rock and jazz: rhythms played loose and colorful, carrying a texture built on two-part percussion, piano and drums. The biggest draw on Joy Ride is Planet Groove's eagerness to re-interpret established songs. A progressive take on Miles Davis's "So What," featuring Providence's DJ Venom, is a steady reworking of a series of horn riffs as cascading turntable scratching. Others songs are draped with Tropicalia from Brazil, Tricky's trip-hop and even a breezy Jimmy Buffett lilt in "Linus & Lucy," the Vince Guaraldi-penned theme from Charlie Brown.

"Del Rio" is a downbeat ballad in Cesaria Evora's plaintive, reflective "morna" style. Larry Barron's singing is melodic and charming. The latter third of the disk goes in yet another direction. "Kamikaze," "Forbidden City" and "ESB" play in the style of Safri Duo, the popular Danish musicians who meld African percussion, electronic-music beats and occasional rock keyboards into a dreamscape of sound. These songs aspire to remind a listener that percussion is the spine of Planet Groove, but they are less engaging than the personal storytelling of songs such as "All Hands." Aaron Wade, a dynamic pianist, opens the excellent "All Hands" -- part one of his two-song pairing, "All Hands" and "Coronado" -- as if he is midway through a terse conversation. His left-hand seeks to be domineering and brooding, a contrast to his free-spirited right-hand playing. He has resolved the tussle by the next song, "Coronado"; Wade lays down a quiet six-note phrase to open, then the band is folded into the freewheeling groove. Listeners who like Wade's musicianship should hunt down Motherland, from Panamanian jazz pianist Danilo Perez.

Planet Groove's lineup is Barron on vocals and percussion; John Medeiros, guitars and vocals; Ajay Coletta, drums, percussion and vocals; Nick Wade, bass and vocals and Wade on keyboards and vocals. The band plays tomorrow at the Narrows Center For The Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River; (508) 324-1926 (tickets are $8 for the 9 p.m. show), and Saturday at the New Wave Cafe, 143 North Front St., New Bedford. The New Wave Cafe show is outside, 8 p.m., with X-Tones and Spiney Norman. $5; (508) 984-0080.

September gigs include Sept. 14 at the IYAC Club at the Westin Hotel in Providence,
and the band will record a live album Sept. 28 at the Ocean Mist in Matunuck.