Modern Groove Syndicate might be Richmond’s best-kept secret. Originating as a trio in 1998, the funk-fueled instrumental combo swelled to a quintet to release a 2002 six-track CD that was critically well received. Tracks included “Fryin’ Eggs & Bacon.” “Chewin’ the Fat,” “Back in the Kitchen” and “Mullets” — an indication that these aren’t so much “songs” as groove identification.

Modern Groove Syndicate’s new CD, Vessel, is an instrumental throwback to the mid-to-late ’70s, when fusion and funk was the rage. Blend elements of Weather Report, Frank Zappa (at his most perverse) and even a smidgen of the Average White Band and you get some idea of where MGS is coming from. Song titles are playful and smack of in-jokes among band mates: “Exs & Hos,” “Code Brown,” “Angel Rust,” “Chicken Wings,” “Mo Time” and the ubiquitous “Gerbils for Pets” among the sobriquets offered here.

MGS is rhythm personified. A quartet for this go-round, bassist Todd Herrington and drummer Joel DeNunzio anchor a time-is-tight rhythm section, so keyboardist Daniel Clarke (clavinet, piano, organ) and saxophonist J.C. Kuhl can wail at will. There is no question that these are four very talented musicians. There is a groove here, and they work hard to lay the groundwork. You’ll find nuggets of Bob James and Miles Davis and Steely Dan amid tracks like “Jeans Jacket” and “Scloop M’ Dooby,” so these guys have obviously been listening to the right stuff. Heck, you can even glean some latter-day Soft Machine in the mix. But MGS has obviously checked out ‘90s jam bands as well.

Danceable? Listenable? Yes and no. Potential unbounded? Absolutely. Right now, Modern Groove Syndicate is an esoteric mix of savvy musicians mining a groove. They have proved that they can master funk, but it will be interesting to see where the future takes them. Like the circuit-board cover art suggests, Vessel could be considered music for robots. Eminently serviceable in small doses, but tedious over the long haul.

It’s this simple: You either like funk, or you don’t. If you dig, MGS has chops to burn.