Born in Cape Town, South Africa and shaped by his formative years in Seattle, Ari Joshua has evolved into a distinguished musician and composer. His musical journey, punctuated by a scholarship on the East Coast, laid the foundation for a career marked by a passion for jazz and improvisation.
His artistic legacy extends beyond his performances, as he founded The Music Factory, a platform providing nearly 100,000 music lessons, demonstrating a commitment to music education and community enrichment. His influence expands further through collaborations with rock and roll legends like Stone Gossard, Michel Shreive, Barrett Martin and Peter Buck, contributing to his well-deserved status as a beloved figure in the music scene.
Linking up with other musicians, he brings to life his compositions via his own musicianship panache alongside the sonic flair of other talented artists. Along the way, he’s formed recurring ensembles such as the RAAR Trio, which was born when Ari Joshua, Russ Lawton and Ray Paczkowski came together after the Beacon Jams sessions. In 2021, they first shared their sound with the world via their debut single, “Father Time.”
Now the group reunite to bring us their latest release with the brand new RAAR Trio single titled “Star Light Mountain,” recorded in the middle of winter towards the end of a lockdown when Ari made a journey out to write and record for a week. This time leaning into a rock and roll sound while still maintaining the jazz-inflected funk groove that’s defined Ari’s musical output, with “Star Light Mountain,” the trio serves up an epic classic rock jam capped by commanding vocal performance and brimming with slick guitar leads throughout.
Brought in by the psychedelic tinged flutter of guitar notes, the full arrangement takes shape with lively drum patters, bright piano notes and wah-drenched guitar flourishes before settling into a bluesy rock scene. The rich lead vocals take the lead, backed by lush vocal sweeps to craft a charming rock sound that’s at once catchy and technically brilliant. It’s a sensational showcase of incredible musicianship and songwriting, brought to life in a spectacular rock music setting.
Currently on tour with a revolving cast of different musicians and guest appearances, Ari’s next live performance is set to take place tomorrow on June 5th at The Stone Church in Bratelboro, followed by a Friday show on the 7th at Art Walk in Brattleboro, Vermont with Kris Yunker and the Ben Atkind Trio. Next week on June 9th he’ll be performing in New York City followed by a recording session in New Jersey the next day. To find out more and catch Ari Joshua live, check out his website for details here.
Listen to Star Light Mountain below
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