What happens when one of the “farthest out cats” on NYC’s loft jazz scene fractures a bone tripping over a curb? When that cat is multi-instrumentalist, composer and free jazz legend Michael Moss, he assembles a high energy 22 piece ensemble, dubs it the “Accidental Orchestra” and records an experimental 6 track, nearly one hour work called Helix.
Balancing moments of true groove, swing, melody and compelling solos with wild stretches of mystical transcendence, and loud, out and out stretches of cacophony, Moss and his orchestra’s focus is on a five movement work called “The Old One,” titled after Einstein’s name for God. Like the Universe itself, the project is chaotic at times, but moments of resonant beauty shine through.