The Ari Joshua Quartet On the Making Of “and now it comes...”
What was the catalyst that ignited the creation of "and now it comes...?"
I love the jazz quartet, Drums, Bass, Piano, Guitar. I’d love to play in that format all day long. This recording started as a trio, Will and Joel and I did a lot of playing late at night. We played free alot. As a trio, the band was called 'Cadillac Arrest,' but we would all bring ideas to our practice sessions One of those tunes we played was. "And now it comes..." is an exquisite piece, it seems to breathe with a life of its own.
What fills you with the most pride when it comes to this track?
For me, being fully immersed in the moment, having that moment captured on tape. I take pride in knowing that when you're sincere and, and allowing your emotions to guide you, forging new and different ideas is something that flows effortlessly. Inspiration sprouts from a wide range of life experiences. I made a few what I would consider to be imperfections, but when you capture the emotions, those imperfections are rendered inconsequential, in fact they are desirable. I am most proud that I got to feel that way playing this, and listening back I resonate with it.
What specific musicians or non-musicians have profoundly influenced your work? How has this diverse range of influences shaped your artistic journey?
My father's record collection had a significant impact in the early years. I delved into that music like diving into the deep end of a pool. Reflecting now, I wonder if it was my way of spending time with him, I missed his presence. The divorce left me pretty sad, but he left behind an amazing stereo system, I learned about the blues. The record player had that thing with the circles on the platter; it lit up and would mesmerize me. The records featured many great guitar players, including Hendrix, Clapton, Santana, Bob Marley, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Our shared taste in what constitutes good music certainly brought us closer. Influences have shaped my journey, but even more so life experiences, like walking along the beach at sunrise in Cape Town, South Africa, seeing the people, smelling the air, and knowing this is part of who I am.
How do you approach creating something new and different?
I grew up in a time with lots of change on the horizon. Being a kid in Seattle during the inception and peak of the grunge rock era, I saw all those bands perform live, and we all had a sense of pride around that music being from our town. I learned all the songs I loved. They came easy to me; I would buy an album and learn it. That energy was explosive, and as a young teen, the culture was changing in front of our eyes and ears. The internet was created, and the wave was breaking.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they impacted your own sound?
Later, I discovered myself in an award-winning all-star jazz program during my high school years — the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band. Our tours brought together an incredible blend of talent, and we poured our hearts into our performances. It was a transformative experience for me. Playing Count Basie and Duke Ellington from 9th to 12th grade for 90 minutes a day. Priceless.