** 1/2; HANK CRAWFORD & JIMMY McGRIFF: “Road Tested” (Milestone)

Alto saxophonist Crawford’s influence can be heard all over the funk-oriented wing of contemporary jazz. But few of his musical followers can match the gutsiness of his sound or the driving force of his rhythmic articulation.

His Milestone recordings with organist McGriff date back more than a decade, and neither time nor age have weathered either player’s capacity to find the life substance in the compatible blending of jazz and the blues.

Although the music sets no new standard of innovation, it is nonetheless an appealing collection of solid performances. Virtually every track by the two players--who open a five-night run at the Jazz Bakery on Tuesday--simmers with foot-tapping enthusiasm. Whether it’s a rocking version of “I Only Have Eyes for You,” a slow-drag rendering of “For Sentimental Reasons” or a passel of blues (including John Coltrane’s “Mr. P.C.”), the mood is upbeat and the energy nonstop

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four stars (excellent).