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In Jacob Fred we don't tell the music what to do, the music tells us what to do. That's kind of our mission statement. The music told us that it was time for a new drummer... We're all listening to the same inner-voice. We're all listening to the same muse. We're all taking dictation from the mysterious Jacob Fred and he's the one that brought this record about. He's the one that brought this change about. -Reed Mathis |
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Photo of JFJO by Zack Smith
The Tao of Tae
Tae Meyulks by Ariel Mathis
Lil' Tae Rides Again is named after its mixer-producer, Tae Meyulks. More so than any other subject we cover, Mathis is busting at the seams when speaking of Meyulks.
"He's like fucking Beethoven or something. He's been a huge influence on us from day one. I've been trying to talk the guy into making a record with us for ten years, and he finally said okay. He's one of the best musicians I've ever heard, and definitely one of the all-time great Oklahoma musicians," says Mathis. "He's like our age but fucking heavy."
Meyulks' presence leaps out of the stereo on Lil' Tae and smudges your face with dark fingerprints, unmistakably his own. He is extremely interested in the theories of sleep deprivation and its psychedelic effects. In every way, shape and form, the album seems to be a soundtrack for his wild experimentation, with Mathis and company as his guinea pigs – on acid.
"This was an experience we needed to have. Tae completely took us through the looking glass. We were like babies in his arms," Mathis says. "He's a shaman for sure, like in the original sense of the word. He's not going to pat your butt and tell you everything is okay. He might scare the shit out of you [laughs sinisterly]. And he might like it!"
Also adding to the spooky, haunting vibe of the album was where it was recorded, a place in downtown Tulsa simply known as "The Bricks."
"It's a freaky place for sure," says Mathis. "There have been musicians using that building since long before my time. I remember being in middle-school, and some of the first times that I was lucky enough to be taken by older friends I went to see their older brothers' bands. People were hanging out, listening to The Dead and smoking weed. You're just like, 'Oh, wow!' I had those experiences in that building back in like 1990 [laughs]."
A return to The Bricks influenced the new record with Meyulks adding inspired touches like morphing echoing cowboy boots into Raymer's snare drum on "Carpool."
"It's a very, very old, original warehouse, next to the original railroad that was here before this place was called Tulsa," continues Mathis. "The brick street outside that gives the area its name is the original horse and buggy, brick street. It's the only part of downtown Tulsa that has not been paved over, so, it's really spooky. The building played a huge part and you can definitely hear it on the record."
Four-Piece Fred
Reed Mathis
For the first time since their initial conception as an octet, JFJO will be something other than a trio on the Lil' Tae tour. They will be a four-piece consisting of Mathis, Haas, Raymer and Peter Tomshany - a configuration Mathis hopes survives for the foreseeable future. "With this four-piece, we've got 15 instruments between the four of us for this show. It honestly sounds orchestral. The guy we've added is one of my biggest heroes on the planet," says Mathis.
Mathis recalls being at a middle-school assembly where Tomshany played bass. "I can still see the solo he played as clearly as if it was this morning. It was like seeing Jimi Hendrix or something," says Mathis. "I cannot overestimate this guy. He is literally one of the most talented musicians I've ever seen."
Mathis has kept in touch with Tomshany since that fateful assembly, and last year played bass in a ten-piece band for Tomshany's Indicator Activator, an album where Tomshany played all ten parts himself. "That's Pete. He's my personal, first rock star," states Mathis.
JFJO will also be bringing "visual artist" Adam Skapple on tour with them to do live video mixing. "He's been preparing images for each song, and he's doing amazing shit. It's like the psychedelic version of that Planet Earth series. I don't want to give this away, but let's just say we won't be wearing normal clothes," chuckles Mathis.
"We put the word 'Odyssey' in the band name and we're stuck with it. It's like be careful what you name something because you're going to act it out. We're on an adventure. And adventures make their own circumstances and solutions. We're not really 'by-the-book' guys, so it takes whatever shape it takes. Our job is just to be glad to see it when it comes," observes Mathis. "That's what happens when you take a year off! If the audience has half as much fun as we're having, it will be their favorite show of the year. Jeez, if the rehearsals are this much fun, I can't imagine how much fun the shows are going to be. I might just explode."
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is on tour now, dates available here...
JamBase | Tulsa
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