Another one jumps ship
January 6th, 2009 by Leilani Polk in NewsYesterday, the big news was that Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider was leaving the band. His departure 
announcement overshadowed that of another — Reed Mathis (pictured), founding member of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, who’s leaving his post as bassist of JFJO to explore new horizons of improvisation.
From the JFJO website:
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is very pleased to announce the band’s 2009 lineup. The odyssey continues with Brian Haas on keys, Josh Raymer on drums, and proudly introducing Chris Combs on guitar & lap steel and Matt Hayes on bass. A supplemented version of this lineup made its debut on New Year’s Eve to an elated sold out crowd in Tulsa Oklahoma.
The core quartet lineup of Haas/Raymer/Combs/Hayes will make its debut this coming Saturday, January 10th @ Kenny’s Castaways as part of the 2009 NYC Winter Jazz Fest!
JFJO would also like to wish their best to founding member of 15-years, Reed Mathis, as 2009 will find him exploring other musical endeavors.
It was a high-profile few years for Mathis — he joined West Coast jammers Tea Leaf Green, toured as part of a trio with keyboardist Marco Benevento and drummer Matt Chamberlain, and with JFJO, put out the band’s first new album of all original material in three years, Lil Tae Rides Again, and toured in support of it.
I’ve been following JFJO for a little while, and finally got to see them play last year at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz Fest. It was one of the best shows I witnessed that weekend along with Marco Benevento’s solo set, and both the JFJO and Benvento sets included one key member: Mathis. The dude has chops and the sort of dynamicism that makes it hard to look away from him while he’s playing. He knows when to bring the melody, when to use spacey electro effects and texture, when to make the fat fuzz to shake your sternum, when to slide into a funky groove. He also plays a pretty fine guitar and make it sing like no one I’ve heard. He is one talented dude and JFJO will likely suffer without his presence, though as a fan, I hope that Mathis’ absence will only make the band better. It will certainly make JFJO very different, especially with the addition of lap steel to their sound.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
He’s going to be playing down at the State this weekend with Denson, should be interesting…
January 7th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Really? I can’t find any info on that.. You have a link?
January 7th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Nope, Mathis is def not playing with Denson — but he is playing with Tea Leaf Green, which happens to be stopping in Orlando on Saturday night.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Leilani
Have you seen The Heavy Pets yet? And the Kang-firmed Phish dates?
January 7th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Yes, I really like the Heavy Pets, tho I haven’t seen them in a while despite the fact that they’ve been playing here pretty regularly. And yep, saw the Phish dates, check my post up top, with video! (If you’re a fan, you’ve prolly seen it and/or own it).
February 5th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Reed Mathis is one of the most gifted musicians that ive ever had the pleasure of seeing. JFJO in my opinion was one of the few groups that always got it right. its a shame to see him go, but i wish him
good luck and continued success in all his endeavors.
Wilson