Unpredictable and euphoric, ‘Pork Fat’ is a joy to listen to. Drenched in soulful and funk energy, the record showcases the heightened musicianship of the trio behind the piece. Guitarist Ari Joshua is a familiar name on these streets, on this occasion accompanied by organist Delvon Lamarr, saxophonist Skerik, and drummer Grant Schroff. That’s not their first time getting together, with the original trio of Lamarr, Schroff and Joshua sharing common history in countless club gigs across the Pacific Northwest.
Their alchemy is undeniable. Joshua’s sharp and rhythmically precise guitar motifs move in tandem with Lamarr’s harmonic matter, a sonic skeleton then supercharged by Schroff’s relentless drum grooves and Skerik’s potent solos. Ari’s virtuoso abilities are also in full display, guiding the ensemble towards a successful recording. Out now via Music Factory Records, ‘Pork Fat’ was captured in one live take by Mell Dettmer, then mixed by Jason Gray and mastered by Doug Krebs.
Speaking about the legendary origins behind the track, Joshua explains: “We would throw down weekly organ trio sets, filling rooms with thick, swampy funk and tight boogaloo rhythms. ‘Pork Fat’ was a staple of those sets—a tune that always hit hard and left audiences sweaty and smiling.” Chris Ball of Deepgroove Designs is the talented artist behind the cover art.
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