Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey

The lads comprising Tulsa's Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey — none of whom are named Jacob or Fred — are jazz musicians of a generation for whom rock, funk, and electronica are not anathema. Core members Brian Haas (keyboards) and Reid Mathis (bass) openly acknowledge the influences of Boards of Canada, Panda Bear, and Brian Eno — their ninth disc Lil Tae Rides Again radiates that inspiration along with that of Miles Davis circa Bitches Brew/Get Up with It and Herbie Hancock's Sextant. "Tether Ball Triumph" layers shimmering, overlapping melodic fragments over hushed drum 'n' bass rhythms. The eerie "Santiago Lends a Hand" sounds like a lullaby for the postapocalypse before ominous, lurching beats come to the fore. One of the few uptempo pieces here is the dub-tinged "Discovering the Time Capsule," where sweet, nostalgic accordion sighs waft through thick, metallic piano chords — imagine Tortoise in waltz mode. Dense and surreal, Lil Tae is jazz-informed ambience that refuses drift into "background" sound.