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The latest release from The Ari Joshua Quartet, “Praysue,” stands as a deeply emotional and spiritual tribute. Blending classical themes with improvisational jazz it creates a moving song.
Released on September 6, this nine-minute composition is a homage to Ari Joshua’s late grandfather and Przysucha, Poland. Recorded at the renowned Applehead Studios, the piece is a collaboration with jazz legends John Medeski and Billy Martin from the iconic group Medeski, Martin, and Wood. Their participation, alongside string arrangements by Phillip Peterson and Jason Fraticelli on double bass, results in a grand in scale.
“Praysue” begins with a two-minute prelude, anchored by Fraticelli’s resonant bass, setting a reflective tone that carries the listener into the heart of the composition. The orchestral strings soon join, building in layers that feel deeply connected to memory and place. As Joshua’s guitar enters the fold, its warm, expressive tones bridge the gap between the personal and the universal. This creates a feeling of introspection and transcendence.
Medeski’s keyboards, always unpredictable and full of texture, bring a kaleidoscope of color to the composition. This composition adds depth and richness to the evolving narrative. Meanwhile, Billy Martin’s drumming remains the pulse of the piece, offering both subtlety and strength as it weaves in and out of the intricate arrangement. The interplay between Joshua and Medeski around the four-minute mark serves as a high point. This is where improvisation meets emotion, producing a sense of dialogue between the instruments that feels alive and spontaneous.
In the final moments of the piece, “Praysue” circles back to its opening themes, offering a resolution that feels like a return home—transformed by the journey but deeply rooted in the past. The emotional weight of the piece is undeniable, as it seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary styles into something timeless.
