Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey Schedules Rare Northern California Concerts

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey are set to perform shows in San Francisco on May 27 and Santa Cruz on May 28. The concerts mark the first public Northern California gigs for the band’s OG Trio lineup — keyboardist Brian Haas, bassist/guitarist Reed Mathis and drummer Jason Smart — in nearly two decades.

San Francisco’s The Masonic will host Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey on Wednesday, May 27. Then, the genre-defying three-piece heads to Santa Cruz for a show at the Crepe Place on Thursday, May 28. Each concert will feature ond and new compositions written by all three members, as per Reed Mathis’ Instagram post.

Formed in 1994, Reed Mathis and Brian Haas are co-founding members of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. Mathis was a member of the experimental group through 2008, one year after Smart’s departure. The OG Trio lineup has gathered for sporadic gigs since reuniting in 2019 to help JamBase celebrate its 20th anniversary at a private party held at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California.

Reed Mathis heads to Ventura after the JFJO concerts for multiple appearances at the Maybe It Was The Roses Music Festival in Ventura, California. Mathis’ project will interpret the songs of Paul Simon on Friday, May 29 before Reed teams with keyboardist Aron Magner, guitarist Mark Karan, saxophonist Dave Ellis, bassist Don Was and drummer John Molo for the debut of their Dead Aces supergroup on Sunday, May 31.

Tickets for Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey’s San Francisco show are on sale now. Santa Cruz tickets will become available soon.