They wear suits, play jazz, click finger-chimes and groove like rappers.

Meet The J. Davis Trio.

Wednesday night, the trio introduced a unique blend of hip-hop and jazz at the Holmes Student Center Diversions Lounge, wowing the local audience. The Chicago-based group has been around since 1995, and has toured with bands such as Black Eyed Peas, The Roots and De La Soul. Two members of The J. Davis Trio were formerly of the Chicago punk/ska/rock/R&B band, The Blue Meanies.

The J. Davis Trio, which vocalist Stuart says has strong “Radiohead and Flaming Lips influences,” plays shows throughout Chicago, performing at the House Of Blues, The Empty Bottle and the Double Door.

With a casual off-balance swagger, the trio performed songs like “Orange Alert” and the obscurely named “Sorrow is the Key that Gets Your Tears Out of Eye-Jail.” The trio’s particular style of music has a smooth jazz tempo, with strong hip-hop beats, ringing hand chimes and melodic bass trumpet. Judging by the applause given after each song, The J. Davis Trio was an enjoyable mid-week distraction.

DeKalb resident Shayna Egan heard about the J. Davis Trio through a friend.

“I like how the music is minimalistic,” Egan said, doting on the simplicity of the smooth jazz/hip-hop combination.

Tenesha Smith, a senior Spanish translation major, went to the concert out of curiosity.

“I love jazz and I’m starting to like hip-hop,” said Smith.

Stuart explained how, over the past few years, the trio’s songs have become more crafted.

Stuart raps and “plays the bongos to get the point [of the music] across.”

Bass player Flav-R-Ice, who cites saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kurke as a musical influence, has been playing bass for 15 years. He said that of all the great bands he has performed with, “this one is the most fun being in.”

“It’s also the most chummy,” he later added.

All members of the trio hold day jobs when they are not touring with their Dodge van to haul around their equipment.

The J. Davis Trio was recording in Los Angeles last week with producer Sam Spegal, who is working on the group’s compilation. The J. Davis Trio can be reached at its Web site, www.jdavistrio.com.