Chris Combs: crowdfunding campaign for new solo album "COMBSY"

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey guitarist Chris Combs has launched a Kickstarter campaign to cover the costs of recording his first solo album COMBSY:

I've spent the last 10 years writing, touring, and recording with a variety of artists and I'm excited to finally be finishing up my first "solo" record. Since joining Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey in 2008, I have spent my life completely immersed in music. I've experienced the ups and downs of life on the road, met some fantastic people, and gotten the opportunity to work with some of my biggest heroes. Over the last few years I've been involved with a variety of Tulsa-based projects including Booomclap, Gogo Plumbay, Stone Trio, Mike Dee, Archer Trio, Pilgrim, Verse & the Vapors and Chris Blevins while working remotely on studio projects with artists from all over the country. This new COMBSY record/concept is the most honest and personal thing I've ever done and I'm super proud of how it has turned out.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: on tour in September

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey will be playing four shows in September, including two gigs at their regular haunt in Denver, CO.

Live dates:

• 09/08 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
• 09/09 Denver, CO @ DazzleJazz (7pm)
• 09/09 Denver, CO @ DazzleJazz (9pm)
• 09/10 Boulder, CO @ Shine

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: "Better Living Through Competitive Spirituality" video

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey have set Better Living Through Competitive Spirituality to footage of their 2014 West Coast tour. It is a track from their latest album The Battle for Earth. Keyboard player Brian Haas: "We definitely love to fuck up pretty much constantly, which is part of the fun."

» jfjo.com

HCTF review of The Battle for Earth.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: The Battle for Earth

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (JFJO) are fighting the good fight on the new live album The Battle for Earth. Culled from two shows (December 16-17, 2014) at Dazzle in Denver, CO, the trio revisit the bulk of the material from their 2014 album Worker. There is a looseness and confidence that wasn't quite captured on the studio recorsdings. Playing at one of their favorite venues before an appreciative audience was obviously inspiring. The tracks serve as the soundtrack for a rather dark sci-fi story about an alien invasion (the album is also released in conjunction with a comic book), but the compositions don't really to be illustrated. The trio can paint with notes, switching between short burst of free-jazz freak-out and good old honky-tonk bar bits.

JFJO have been through many incarnations throughout their 21 year career. The current trio have been playing together since 2008 and have an uncanny musical rapport. Founding member Brian Haas brings a wide array of psychedelic keyboards, guitarist Chris Combs throws in the odd rock lick to keep the audience on their toes and drummer Joshua Raymer serves as a bedrock and third lead player for the price of one.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: "Bounce/Betamax" video

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey have posted an animated video for Bounce/Betamax, a mashup of two tracks from their new album Worker. The clip was created by Joe Cappa.

The avant-jazz trio have added two shows with special guests in Tulsa (November 28-29).

Live dates:

• 11/11 Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop
• 11/13 Cambridge, MA @ The Lily Pad
• 11/14 New York, NY @ Zinc Bar
• 11/15 Burlington, VT @ Radio Bean
• 11/28 Tulsa, OK @ The Colony (w/ Paul Benjaman)
• 11/29 Tulsa, OK @ The Colony (w/ Dustin Pittsley)

» jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: new album "Worker" 10/14

photo: Jeremy Charles

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey have finished their new album Worker. Lead single Betamax is streaming on Soundcloud. Great pulsating keyboards and old school sound effects galore.

Worker is released thru The Royal Potato Family. Release date: October 14.

Live dates:

• 10/08 Norman, OK @ The Deli
• 10/09 Austin, TX @ The Parish
• 10/11 New Orleans, LA @ Snug Harbor
• 10/16 enver, CO @ DazzleJazz
• 10/17 Denver, CO @ DazzleJazz
• 10/18 Santa Fe, NM @ Santa Fe University of Art and Design
• 10/21 San Diego, CA @ Winston's
• 10/22 San Diego, CA @ San Diego Community College Masterclass (1-2pm)
• 10/22 Los Angeles, CA @ The Mint
• 10/23 Oakland, CA @ Duende
• 10/24 Oakland, CA @ Duende
• 10/25 Nevada City, CA @ Crazy Horse
• 10/26 Petaluma, CA @ Zodiacs
• 10/28 Cottage Grove, OR @ The Ax and Fiddle
• 10/29 Zig Zag, OR @ Skyway Bar and Grill
• 10/30 Portland, OR @ The Goodfoot
• 10/31 Olympia, WA @ Rhythm and Rye
• 11/01 Seattle, WA @ Earshot Jazz Festival
• 11/10 Columbus, OH @ Dick's Den
• 11/11 Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop
• 11/13 Cambridge, MA @ The Lily Pad
• 11/14 New York, NY @ Zinc Bar
• 11/15 Burlington, VT @ Radio Bean

» jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: "Millions: Live In Denver" for Record Store Day

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey celebrates their 20th anniversary with a limited edition LP for Record Store Day (Arpoul 19). Millions: Live In Denver was recorded on November 14-15, 2013 at the jazz venue Dazzle in Denver, CO.

Live dates:

• 04/01 The Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA *
• 04/02 Urban Onion – Olympia, WA *
• 04/03 Goodfoot Lounge – Portland, OR *
• 04/05 Boom Boom Room – San Francisco, CA *
• 04/06 Zodiac – Petaluma, CA *
• 04/07 Lava Lounge – Long Beach, CA *
• 04/08 Winston’s – San Diego, CA *
• 04/10 Warehouse 21 – Santa Fe, NM *
• 04/11 The Deli – Norman, OK *
• 04/18 Bricktown Music Hall – Oklahoma City, OK
• 04/19 Guestroom Records – Norman, OK (2pm RSD)
• 04/19 Starship Records – Tulsa, OK (7pm Record Store Day)
• 04/19 Topeca Coffee Roastery – Tulsa, OK
• 04/24 Trees – Dallas, TX
• 04/25 Norman Music Festival – Norman, OK
• 04/26 Holy Mountain – Austin, TX
• 04/30 The Howlin Wolf Den – New Orleans, LA
• 05/03 The Blue Nile – New Orleans, LA
• 05/09 The Guthrie Green – Tulsa, OK

* w/ Mike Dillon Band

Millions: Live In Denver is released thru The Royal Potato Family.

» jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: 20th anniversary shows in Denver

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey celebrates their 20th anniversary with two shows in Denver on November 14 and 15. They will record all four sets for a vinyl live album:

This Thursday and Friday we return to Denver to play four sets at DazzleJazz. This special two night run begins our 20th anniversary celebration and ushers in a new era as the band returns to the trio setting. Brian Haas, Chris Combs, & Josh Raymer will play new arrangements of classic JFJO original material from 1994 onward. Both nights are being recorded for a live vinyl release coming out in 2014.

» jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: tour dates

The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is on tour in the USA. They will fly across the big pond to play at two renowned jazz festivals in Europe.

Live dates:

• 06/24 Rochester, NY @ Rochester International Jazz Festival (w/ Mark Southerland on saxophone)
• 06/27 Boston, MA @ Cafe 939 (w/ Mark Southerland on saxophone, support act Father Figures)
• 06/28 Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live (w/ Mark Southerland on saxophone & w/ Jason Fraticelli Trio
• 06/29 New York, NY @ Blue Note @ Blue Note Jazz Festival (late night) (w/ Peter Apfelbaum & Mark Southerland on horns)
• 07/04 Maribor, Slovenia @ Festival Lent (w/ Mark Southerland on saxophone)
• 07/07 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ North Sea Jazz Festival w/ Peter Apfelbaum, Steven Bernstein, & Mark Southerland on horns)
• 08/11 Harrah, OK @ Pavilion Series (w/ Mark Southerland on saxophone)

Video: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Grandfather's Gun
(live @ Fairfield Theater Company, Fairfield, CT - 2011/10/23)

» jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Fred Odyssey: "Race Riot Suite World" premier in Tulsa, tour dates

Jacob Fred Fred Odyssey are premiering their Race Riot Suite in Tulsa, OK, on May 20th. Two shows in two venues on the same night:

The premier will feature the JFJO quartet plus the same horn quintet that is featured on the forthcoming album release. The quintet features Jeff Coffin on Saxophone (Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Dave Matthews Band), Steven Bernstein on Trumpet (Sex Mob, Levon Helm), Peter Apfelbaum on Saxophone (Don Cherry), Mark Southerland on Saxophone (Snuff Jazz), & Matt Leland on Trombone (a founding JFJO member). We'll also be playing with many of these friends in New Orleans during Jazz Fest.

Live dates:

• 03/30 Kansas City, MO @ Crosstown Station (w/ Snuff Jazz)
• 03/31 St.Louis, MO @ Cicero's (9:30pm) (w/ Juanita Place)
• 04/02 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop (w/ Modquad)
• 04/07 Kalamazoo, MI@ Bell's Brewery (w/ The Hue)
• 04/08 Chicago, IL @ Double Door (opening for Greyboy Allstars)
• 04/09 Chicago, IL @ Double Door (opening for Greyboy Allstars)
• 04/29 New Orleans, LA @ Blue Nile (w/ Mark Southerland) *
• 04/30 New Orleans, LA Maple Leaf (w/ Johnny Vidacovich & Mark Southerland) *
• 05/06 New Orleans, LA @ Maple Leaf (w/ Jeff Coffin, Steven Bernstein & Mark Southerland) *
• 05/07 New Orleans, LA @ Parish @ House of Blues (w/ Jeff Coffin & The Mu'tet)
• 05/20 Tulsa, OK (Race Riot Suite World Premier) Early Show @ 8pm @ John H. Williams Theatre
• 05/20 Tulsa, OK (Race Riot Suite World Premier) Late Show @ 10pm &@ The Tulsa Performing Arts Center
  (w/ special guest horn players Jeff Coffin, Steven Bernstein, Peter Apfelbaum, Mark Southerland, & Matt Leland)
• 06/08 Denver, CO @ Dazzle
• 06/08 Denver, CO @ Dazzle

* late night show @ 3am

Video: Jacob Fred Fred Odyssey- Race Riot Suite World

» jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: "The Sensation of Seeing Light" 7 inch

The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey are releasing a limited 7 inch single for Record Store Day. It will feature the full length song The Sensation of Seeing Light on Side A, and a remixed version of the track, courtesy of Dylan Golden, on Side B.

The single will be included on the new full-length album Stay Gold, due out June 22nd on CD and double LP.

The Sensation of Seeing Light single is released on Kinnara Records. Release date: April 17th.

» jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: USA and European tour

photo: Jeremy Charles

The current line-up of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey have been together for one year now. Pianist Brian Haas, drummer Josh Raymer, lap steel guitarist Chris Combs and upright bassist Matt Hayes recorded the One Day In Brooklyn EP and have liad some tracks for a full lenght follow-up that most likely will be released this Summer.

For now, the road beckons with Stateside dates and a European tour.

USA tour:

• 02/02 The Deli, Norman, OK
• 02/04 Winston's, San Diego, CA
• 02/06 The Mint, Los Angeles, CA
• 02/10 Moe's Alley, Santa Cruz, CA
• 02/11 Beatnick Studios, Sacramento, CA
• 02/12 Coda, San Francisco, CA
• 02/13 Hopmonk Tavern, Sebastopol, CA
• 02/14 Red Fox Tavern, Eureka, CA
• 02/17 High Dive, Seattle, WA
• 02/18 Eastside Club, Olympia, WA
• 02/19 Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR

European tour:

• 03/03 A-Trane, Berlin, Germany
• 03/06 Jazz Dock, Prague, Czech Republic
• 03/09 Nya Perspektiv, Vasteras, Sweden
• 03/11 Fasching Jazz Club, Stockholm, Sweden
• 03/13 Turku Jazz Festival, Turku, Finland
• 03/15 Cafe Wilhelmina, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
• 03/19 Cafe Alto, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 03/22 Teatro Alfierri, Cagliari, Italy
• 03/31 The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, Scotland
• 04/01 Vortex, London, United Kingdom

MP3: JFJO - The Black and Crazy Blues and A Laugh For Rory (for Joel Dorn)

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» jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: tour dates

Tulsa experimental outfit Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (JFJO)) are on tour plugging their One Day In Brooklyn EP. Lapsteel country meets jazz.

• 10/10 Tritone, Philadelphia, PA
• 10/13 Mill Hill Saloon, Trenton, NJ
• 10/15 Red Square, Albany, NY
• 10/17 The Lizard Lounge, Boston, MA
• 10/21 Iowa City Yacht Club, Iowa City, IA
• 10/22 The Encore, Stevens Point, WI
• 10/23 Cranky Pat's, Neenah, WI
• 10/24 Kinetic Playground, Chicago, IL
• 10/31 Jardine's, Kansas City, MO

Video: JFJO - Goodnight Ollie
(live at Downright Music and Art, Collinsville, CT - 2009/07/17/09)

» jfjo.com

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: Lil Tae Rides Again

The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey has been on the forefront of the electronic avant-garde since 1994. This American is exploring the back road of effects laden psychedelica. This is the kind of music that Syd Barrett would have come up with eventually if he hadn't become an acid casualty.

Their new album Lil Tae Rides Again is their fourteenth album in all. They are all different, but they all bear the unmistakable JFJO mark, i.e. post-jazz-electronica for the inner circle. The eleven tracks are best experienced through headphones. Less music savvy people who happen to be in the same room will thank you for that, especially after they have been exposed to tracks like Tether Ball Triumph or Recovering The Time Capsule. You might try to let them listen to Winter Clothes which takes only 1 minute and 2 seconds of their lives.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey:
Brian Haas: piano
Josh Raymer: drums
Reed Mathis: bass, guitar, effects

Lil Tae Rides Again is released on Hyena Records. Release date: April 8th.

Tracks:

1. Autumnal
2. Winter Clothes
3. Tether Ball Triumph
4. Carpool
5. Tae Parade
6. Santiago Lends A Hand
7. Waking The Reluctant Genius
8. Scuffle In The Hallway
9. The Votes Are Counted
10. Recovering The Time Capsule
11. Goodnight Ollie

Tour dates:

• 04/05 The Deli - Norman, OK
• 04/08 In-store performance @ Lou's Records - Encinitas, CA
• 04/08 Winston's - San Diego, CA
• 04/09 The Mint - Los Angeles, CA
• 04/10 Kuumbwa Jazz Center - Santa Cruz, CA
• 04/11 Cafe Du Nord - San Francisco, CA
• 04/12 'Digital Signature' @ Portugese Hall - Arcata, CA
• 04/14 Mobius - Ashland, OR
• 04/15 Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
• 04/16 Wow Hall - Eugene, OR
• 04/17 High Dive Seattle - Seattle, WA
• 04/18 John's Alley - Moscow, ID
• 04/19 The Loft - Missoula, MT
• 04/20 Knotty Pine - Victor, ID
• 04/23 The Stage Shop - Rollisville, CO
• 04/24 Hodi's Half Note - Fort Collins, CO
• 04/25 Oriental Theater - Denver, CO
• 04/26 Trilogy Lounge - Boulder, CO
• 04/29 Maelstrom Trio, and More @ Hi Ho Lounge - New Orleans, LA
• 04/30 Blue Nile - New Orleans, LA
• 05/01 d.b.a. @ dba - New Orleans - New Orleans, LA
• 05/04 Hyena Showcase, Blue Nile - New Orleans, LA

European dates might happen in October.

» jfjo.com
» myspace.com/jacobfredjazzodyssey