LowDown is thrilled to welcome Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey (JFJO) back to Tulsa in a rare two-night performance at the club! Guests can enjoy live music from the iconic jazz trio in their special homecoming shows on March 3 and March 4. Doors open at 7 p.m. | Show starts at 8 p.m. Ages 21+ ABOUT JACOB FRED JAZZ ODYSSEY While navigating 29 years,16 members, 27 albums, 11 European Tours and sometimes 300 shows a year in the U.S., Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey has become an institution in modern music. Defined by evolution and change, the band has invented it’s own language, one which defies genre. Beginning in Tulsa, OK in 1994 as a funky octet with MCs and horns, JFJO became an instrumental trio in 1999, a quartet in 2007 and expanded to a 9-piece ensemble for 2011's acclaimed Race Riot Suite. Celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2014, the band returned to the trio setting with two critically loved albums one of which, Millions: Live In Denver, sold out it's International Record Store Day Release. Now in it's 29th year as a band, JFJO returns to the well known trio line up of Reed Mathis (Bass & Guitar), Brian Haas (Piano) and Jason Smart (Drums). Known as the OG Jacob Fred Trio (2000-2008), this is the version of the band that took EVERYTHING to the next level. This is the jazz trio that U.S. News and World Report called the "#1 New Star of Jazz in the World." Come hear for yourself what true musical cohesion, improvisation and innovation sounds like during JFJO's rare 2 night appearance at The LowDown Tulsa, March 3 and 4, 2023. “…the group has matured into one of the finest and most exciting jazz groups around.” – Billboard Magazine “Frankly, it's hard to think of a more original, fresh-sounding band."- All About Jazz "Haas and company concoct a sonic galaxy far more kaleidoscopic than might seem doable for a trio." -Downbeat Magazine "We are beyond excited to bring the OG Jacob Fred Trio line up of Mathis, Haas and Smart back to Tulsa. After almost 30 years of pushing this unique musical concept we are stoked to show our hometown what we have been up to both individually and collectively. Tulsa always brings out the best in us and we can't wait to bring this music back to it's birthplace."

Don't miss two-time Grammy award winner and top 20 basslines in Hip Hop History, Derrick Hodge perform live at LowDown on Saturday, February 25. Doors open at 7 p.m. | Show Starts at 8 p.m. Ages 21+ ABOUT DEREK HODGE: Derrick Hodge is one of our moment’s most complete and complex musicians. A prolific composer, conductor, musical director, bandleader, producer bassist and advocate, Hodge has played on some of music’s most iconic albums, written & performed breakthrough orchestral arrangements and compositions, scored an impressive catalog of film and television work and created evocative sonic installations for prestigious cultural institutions, all alongside his work as an activist in the field of emerging young musicians. To date he has been awarded two Grammys, named a Sundance Composer Fellow, received the Motif Award; one of nation’s highest honors for Child Advocacy, and his playing on Common's “BE” has been officially recognized as one of top 20 basslines in Hip Hop History. Hodge describes his career as “speaking existence into possibility”; driven by a passion for music rather than genre, he is an artist defined only by his multiplicity. As lauded a composer as he is revered as one of THE great bassists and musicians of his generation, he is critically acclaimed across genres and mediums and boasts a diverse and devoted global audience. Growing up just outside Philadelphia, Hodge’s talent was quickly recognised by the luminaries of the city’s neo-soul movement, and whilst still in college he became the bass player and Musical Director of choice for pioneers including Jill Scott, Maxwell, Floetry, Nas, Common, James Posyer and Musiq Soulchild. Simultaneously he was forging a career in jazz circles with the likes of other legendary musicians including Terence Blanchard, Donald Byrd, Mulgrew Miller and Bootsie Barnes while also holding a star place in his university’s orchestra. The trust and admiration Hodge commands among musicians - and the expertise he commands in his craft - is unparalleled, and has seen him play a foundational role in a wealth of groundbreaking projects. In 2014 Hodge became the first Black composer to compose Hip Hop for the National Symphony when he acted as Orchestral Arranger and Music Director for the iconic event “20th anniversary celebration of Illmatic” which saw Nas perform the album with the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Steven Reineke’. The event - which was named by FENDER as one of the top moments in Hip Hop history - was also the first time Hip Hop was ever performed by the National Symphony and at the Kennedy Center. In 2021 Hodge continues to break new ground: this time as Arranger for the LA Philharmonic’s shows with Christina Aguilera and H.E.R. at the Hollywood Bowl, part of the re-opening of the iconic venue in Los Angeles. In 2022 he followed with conducting and orchestrating a sold out show at Disney Hall for his long time friend Robert Glaper. Orchestrating for the YOLA orchestra for the SuperBowl and later in March he conducted and orchestrated for the 94th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. All while balancing his TV & Film career, with most recent work on Stella Meghi’s “The Photograph” and Lionsgate’s “Run The World” Series and the upcoming 2022 Netflix release of “The System” Starring Terence Howard and Jeremy Pevin. Tellingly, Hodge has been the ‘first’ many times in his career: including being the first Black composer to write strings for Hip Hop at Carnegie Hall (as Arranger for Mos Def in the venue’s first full Hip Hop show in 2008),and the first black composer to write symphonic music for Hip Hop with the Houston Symphony (as Creative Director & Arranger for Common with the Houston Symphony in 2019).

Chuck Cissel is bringing another great production to LowDown with a new show, Celebrating Oklahoma Jazz and Blues Jam on Friday, February 24! Starring vocalists Missy Allen, Darell Christopher, Keesha McQuarters-Dement, Cynthia Simmons-Taylor, Denise Hoey, Taylor Horner, and Jeff Shadley. Featured musicians include Brad Henderson on piano, Don Horner on guitar, David John on guitar, Cortez Johnson on bass, Jared Johnson on drums, Tommy Poole on saxophone, and Jeff Shadley on trumpet. Doors open at 7 p.m. | Show starts at 8 p.m. Ages 21+

Join us on Thursday, February 23 as Dean Demerritt’s Jazz Tribe plays a tribute to the great Chick Corea! Armando Anthony “Chick” Corea was a 27-time Grammy-winning American jazz composer, pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and occasional percussionist. Doors open at 7 p.m. | Show starts at 8 p.m. Ages 21+