Acceleration Due To Gravity: Jonesville

Bassist, composer and arranger Moppa Elliott's uniquely-titled nonet Acceleration Due To Gravity presents Jonesville a gravity- defying jazz odyssey. It pays a captivating homage to influential bassist Sam Jones by weaving a sonic tapestry which transcends the boundaries of conventional jazz. In this brief seven-track, twenty-one-minute outing, four compositions are by Elliott, with the remainder being Sam Jones' originals. The members of the octet who participated in this unusual musical excursion are trumpeter Bobby Spellman, trombonist Dave Taylor, alto saxophonist Matt Nelson, tenor saxophonist Stacy Dillard, baritone saxophonist Kyle Saulnier, guitarist Ava Mendoza, pianist George Burton and drummer Mike Pride.

The opener is a swinging Sam Jones composition, "Choice," and, like most of the other numbers, is experienced through a dynamic interplay of loops and improvisations. The varying interactions and exchanges between Dillard and Nelson, Saulnier and Mendoza, and Taylor and Spellman exemplify the written variations and spontaneous improvisations. The second Jones original is "Miami Drag," which he wrote in the '50s as part of the Paul Williams band. It features pianist George Burton's improvisation with a density of upper-register notes leading to Taylor's plunger-muted bass trombone interjection. The final Jones composition is "Stack of Dollars," which he penned when working with Tiny Bradshaw's R&B band in the mid-1950s. It opens with some ear- piercing, high-note screeching from alto saxophonist Matt Nelson before trumpeter Bobby Spellman settles into the texture of the music.

The remaining four new pieces reflect the compositional prowess of bassist Moppa Elliott. These musical vignettes have a unique identity but are informed by Sam Jones' music. The first is "Delaware Water Gap," a musical jumble requiring intense listening. Once the labyrinth of notes is sorted out, the result is an auditory adventure which is intellectually stimulating. The closing and title track is "Jonesville." The chart continues with the process that enables the music to be the defining essence of the participating musicians as they till the ground for their improvisations. The project is a testament to the boundless possibilities when creativity and tradition collide.

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