The Aquarium Rescue Unit is an experimental jazz rock group, originally founded as a backup band for Col. Bruce Hampton, consisting of, at various times, Oteil Burbridge, Jimmy Herring, Matt Mundy, Charles Williams, Kofi Burbridge, Jeff Sipe, Paul Henson, and Hampton himself. Formed in Atlanta, Georgia, the Aquarium Rescue Unit, with its constantly changing lineup, was a cornerstone member of the early jam band scene, with players that eventually became members of the Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, Leftover Salmon, and Frogwings. Although the band was never commercially successful, the band's combination of bluegrass, rock, Latin, jazz, and impeccable chops are a template for bands in the genre.

The band originated from a weekly Atlanta jam session hosted by Hampton (from the Hampton Grease Band), playing in the same clubs night after night having a whole routine that the audience knew, and eventually toured around the Southeast United States, with a lineup including Jeff Mosier of the Blueground Undergrass, and Charles Williams of Chateau Debris and The Bonaventure Quartet, eventually settling on the lineup that produced their two albums released on Capricorn Records; Eeepee, in 1991, and In a Perfect World, in 1993.

During the summers of 1992 and 1993, the group joined on the H.O.R.D.E. tour, meeting like-minded bands such as Phish, the Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, and Widespread Panic. Members of these bands would frequently tour, perform, and record with one another. John Popper did so several times, on several Aquarium Rescue Unit albums.

In 1993, Matt Mundy retired from music, and Hampton retired from touring due to health reasons (although he later toured with the Fiji Mariners and The Codetalkers. The band went on, first substituting Oteil Burbridge but eventually recruiting Paul Henson as frontman.

The band, without the leadership of Hampton, eventually fell apart, releasing two poorly-received albums. As they began to stop touring in 1996, Jeff Sipe joined with Jonas Hellborg and eventually with Leftover Salmon. In 1997, Oteil Burbridge replaced Allen Woody in the Allman Brothers Band. Jimmy Herring tours with Jazz is Dead.

In 2006 the band reunited with an almost complete original lineup including Col. Bruce Hampton, Oteil Burbrige, Jimmy Herring, Jeff Sipe aka Apt Q-258, and Bobby Lee Rodgers. They have resumed touring and have recently thrilled festival fans with their unique mix of technical skill and insightful combination of psychedelic jazz, trance, blues, rock and smiles.