Winterwood Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey

• 1Dove’s Army Of Love06:16
• 2Song Of The Vipers05:40
• 3A-Bird06:14
• 4Oklahoma Stomp06:44
• 5Goodnight Ollie04:27
• 6Old Love, New Love06:00
• 7Crazy Fingers04:49
• 8The Slip07:22
• 9Twinstar05:40
• 10Earl Hines04:19
• 11Bumper Crop Of Strange05:14
• 12Walking Before Daylight02:53
• 13Vernal Equinox07:16
• Total Runtime01:12:54

Info for Winterwood

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is tough to place. Most of their musical style falls freely into the jazz or jazz fusion arena. The problem is this instrumental band is so unique, so different and so original that they sound unlike any other group also associated with jazz or jazz fusion.

JFJO, which currently houses four members, Brian Haas on keyboards, Chris Combs on guitar, Matt Hayes on upright bass and Josh Raymer, has been on the scene since 1994. Their latest album, Winterwood, which is available as a free download on their personal website, is their second album in as many years and showcases the band being as quirky, abstract and enjoyable as ever.

The first two tracks on this album, “Dove’s Army of Love” and “Song of the Vipers” are two of the more upbeat and jovial songs I’ve heard from this group. The album then quickly moves from these two inspiring songs to the mellow “A-Bird” before being brought right up with the up-tempo “Oklahoma Stomp”, which sounds just as you might imagine.

A few of these songs, such as “Song of the Vipers” and “Earl Hines” resonate the feel of the old west. These songs without a doubt refer back to the band’s home of Oklahoma in sound. I can’t help but picture anything else in my mind when hearing the culmination of this band’s work. “Song of the Vipers” will make you want to get up and do a jig. It’s a feel damn good song.

The album ends on a high note. “Bumper Crop of Strange” is an amusing collection of sounds that picks the spirit of the album right back up from the mellow sounds that precede it. “Autumnal – Vernal Equinox”, the closing track for the album, is a thundering one taking a whole seven minutes of your time. Those are seven minutes you should be willing to spare considering the uprising feel of the track.

In comparison to the rest of JFJO’s albums, Winterwood holds up incredibly well. It is, in fact, one of my favorites of theirs. It’s a 72-minute, that’s right you guessed it, jazz odyssey.

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey

JFJO
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey's 27th release in 21 years, The Battle For Earth, is a mind melting, particle reorganizing trip through time and space. Manipulated loops, electronics, and synthesizers are juxtaposed with grand piano, guitar, and lap steel. Drummer Josh Raymer's meta-modern drum stylings push, pull and shake the foundation. Recorded live at DazzleJazz in Denver, CO, The Battle For Earth finds JFJO planted firmly in their own language and mythology. Expanding on newer material from 2014's release, Worker, alongside classic tunes like "Tetherball Triumph" and "Sean's Song," the band's unique, angular arrangements and tonalities are redefined as they explore the sonic freedom the current lineup offers. Far from being a traditional trio, JFJO founder/keyboardist Brian Haas simultaneously plays Moog bass and grand piano, throwing in melodica and other synths while guitarist Chris Combs bounces between guitar, lap steel and various synthesizers, making the trio sound like a much larger ensemble. In addition to the ground breaking music, JFJO will be presenting and starring in it’s first ever, limited edition comic book also called The Battle For Earth (digital download included). Conceived by Combs and brought to life by artist Joe Cappa, the comic tells an original, amusing Sci-fi-jazz epic that is equal parts "Space Is The Place" and "Yellow Submarine". Flying elk, helpful aliens, evil space beasts, and lots of free-jazz-powered weaponry make TBFE an intriguing and unique piece of JFJO's 21+ year history.

This album contains no booklet.