From album to album and gig to gig, JFJO constantly redefine their terms, and in the process stretch the often-inflexible jazz genre. "Our music is about being open to whatever presents itself. We try to keep ourselves stimulated, not just with new songs but new approaches, trying to get our music closer to a pure thing than an ego-driven display. More selfless, less personal," says bassist Reed Mathis. "If we've had any mission statement it's to be unconventional in the best way, to find something novel at all times even if no one notices or cares, to do it just for our own spiritual jollies, to be experiencing discovery as often as possible. That leads to a new way to play jazz, a new way to improvise."

"Jazz means something very different to every single person on Earth," continues Haas. "We should just be called the 'Jacob Fred Music Odyssey' or 'Jacob Fred Life Odyssey.' We're just trying to evolve and be better people every day. It's a very simple thing. So, it's really a very personal thing for us. We three are learning to evolve and we're lucky that we have this music to help us through this process."

JFJO just returned from their second tour of Europe in 2006, hitting Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands and Italy. Their music has also taken them to Finland and Brazil, and they're hoping the rest of the world opens to them soon. Despite a devoted cult following Stateside, Jacob Fred is ready to tickle some new ears.

"JFJO - a band unwilling to compromise their creativity for the mainstream ear - has developed a constantly evolving sound unlike virtually anything on today's market." - Jambase

"When it comes to doing things differently, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is right at the forefront. This trio of creative minds has come up with one of the best releases of 2005"
- All About Jazz NYC

"It swings, it sways, but the jazz trio form in their hands has an almost primitive, inside-your-head, idiosyncratic quality to it that suggests the three are truly one."
– Downbeat

"Within this realm of jazz, the group speaks a language with its music, both as individual players and collectively, that cripples the feeble descriptives of the written word." -RELIX Magazine

"You cats are pushing jazz forward in a brand new direction. Thank you."
– Jazz Legend Cecil Taylor after listening to JFJO for 3 hours

"Jazz is just a groove. It has to grow, be wider than the way it sounded in the '30s or 60s or any one era," offers drummer Jason Smart. "There are a lot of bands consistently helping it to grow like Dave Holland and Wayne Shorter, MMW, Brad Mehldau – all these different things filed under 'Jazz' but to different degrees they are and are not jazz."