Kansas City Star – Back to Rockville
Jacob Fred takes local musician on a jazz-world odyssey
Members of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey will perform what KC jazz bassist and newest member Jeff Harshbarger (lower right) calls the group’s “best album” Friday. Brian Haas (top left) is the founder of the group and pianist, Chris Combs (top right) plays lap-steel guitar and Josh Raymer is on drums.
When Brian Haas called Jeff Harshbarger in 2010 and asked him to become the bassist in the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Harshbarger had reasons to say, “No, thank you.”
He was already one of the busiest musicians in Kansas City, working as much as 300 days a year, he estimates. That included significant roles in some of the more esteemed projects in Kansas City: the People’s Liberation Big Band, Snuff Jazz, Alaturka and Tango Lorca.
“Those are all world-class groups,” Harshbarger said recently. “I had a very rich and rewarding life living here and playing here. But apparently that wasn’t enough. I want to travel. I want to go places.”
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