Velocity: Displacement Over Time

The band Velocity, with its recording, Displacement Over Time, explores the laws of physics with its music. If that sounds off-puttingly cerebral, not to worry. The Tacoma, Washington-based quartet's sounds travels crisp, tightly-woven modern jazz terrain not unlike that of pianist Chick Corea's Elektric Band: groove-centric drums and bass, a hot saxophone not quite out front but incorporated more equally into the ensemble sound, and some fine and fancy electric keyboards giving the music a futuristic feel.

The group began as a collaboration between keyboardist Peter Adams, who wrote eight of the nine tunes here, and drummer Brain Smith, and eventually incorporated saxophonist Cliff Colón and bassist Rob Hutchinson.

Velocity has a "two side to the 33rpm album feel." Side one, the first four of the nine tunes, starting with "Mosaic," has a polished, in the pocket feel, with some serious up tempo velocity. Colon's tight, high energy lines weave in and around the the grooves, and Adams' electric keyboards/synthesizers add a high polish metallic sheen, with the title tune begging the feet to get out and chairs to dance—for those with the stamina to keep up.

Side Two begins with "Luna," featuring Adams on acoustic piano. The heat is still turned up high, until a sudden waning finds Colon in a brief, reflective, solo before the band charges once again ahead, and shifts into a spicy Latin groove. "Acceleration and Expansion" begins with Adams plugged in again, his keyboard introducing the tune with an android serenade. "Reflections" finds Adams again going acoustic, with a gorgeous, classical sound backing Colon's sweet soprano sax, and "Penrose" closes the show with a tune that—like a good deal of the rest of the set—could act as a soundtrack to a space ship shooting through the galaxy, approaching the speed of light.

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