David Jones (of Jones Tones notoriety) is something of a musical chaos theorist. From his non-traditional instrumentation to his eclectic song influences (he referenced Bruce Springsteen, hip-hop, Prairie Home Companion, Neil Young, and jazz in a five-minute phone conversation), Jones is a facilitator of controlled musical chaos.

“Above all else I want this album to celebrate the fact that we don’t have complete control over our lives, but that we can still be OK with that.” – UWEC professor and Jones Tones frontman David Jones on his new solo album

“I want people to do their own thing. I have a broad vision for what I want a part to sound like, but I would like to work within [that] musician’s style,” said Jones. “I want to leave room for improvisation.”

Jones’ ideas on inclusivity don’t just end at how the music was recorded; it permeates the very philosophies behind his new solo album, Hippie Child. Here’s what you need to know about Jones: He wants everybody in on the party. Even his press release politely asks you to celebrate their release at an album party. That’s right, not an album release show, it’s a party. But that doesn’t mean Jones doesn’t try to tackle the issues or made an escapist party record. Instead, this is Jones showing us that we need to embrace what we can’t understand and live life fully anyway.

“Above all else I want this album to celebrate the fact that we don’t have complete control over our lives, but that we can still be OK with that.”

This attitude is echoed even in the venue choice for Jones’ release, The Unitarian Congregation on Eau Claire’s Farwell Street. Jones, a member of the church, saw it as an opportunity to reach even more people with his music.

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“I definitely wanted it to be somewhere that people could come from that are of all walks of life. I feel like [the church] brings together some of the community and the university – plus we get to play on a grand piano.”

Casting such a wide musical net has other advantages as well, including getting to hand pick some of the best musicians in the Chippewa Valley and beyond for each track. Duffy Duyfhuizen and John Lebrun of Jones Tones fame appear, but apart from that Jones works with many new artists as well. Joel Pace (Irie Sol), Olaf Lind (Eggplant Heroes), and James Ignacio (Jeff White) all make appearances on the album, and even some of Jones’ other family members got to be in on the recording party. You can hear the smile ons on Jones’ face when he confides, “My girlfriend and daughter both play on Hippie Child as well.”

This attitude has already won The Jones Tones numerous fans around the area. And it is that same attitude, coupled with Jones’ heartfelt lyrics and natural inclination for exploring new sounds in music that makes the release of Hippie Child one to look for. Try coming to the party, you’re invitation’s already in the mail.

David Jones CD Release Party • Nov. 19 • Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 421 S Farwell St., Eau Claire • 6pm • FREE • all ages • amblues.com