Ari Joshua is an American guitarist, songwriter, founding member of the bands
Big High. Acidophilus Culture, The Fort Project, ((Echo)), Cadillac Arrest, Slow Bunny, Space Owl, & RAaR.
History
Ari Joshua was born in
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislature, legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the sec ...
but his early days as an artist were spent in
Seattle, WA, where he grew up and first discovered his musical calling. He attended Roosevelt High School, and played 4 years in the jazz program (The RHS Jazz Band). His hard work and raw talent were quickly recognized, and Ari was awarded a scholarship to study music on the East Coast after high school. "Moving to New York and studying music for 5 years was one of the richest experiences of my life," says Ari. "It was from my fellow students and mentors at
The New School, and
Mason Gross School of the Arts that I began to appreciate the true power of musical expression."
Ari lived in NYC for approximately 5 years, including the 911 attack. In 2003 he began traveling back and forth to the west coast to form a band with a long time collaborator.
Beginning in 2004, Ari worked as a teacher under the name 'Ari Zucker' at The Drum School (SDS) where he enjoyed a tenure until opening
The Music Factory Music School.
Ari Joshua is the founding member of the rock band Big High, which was founded with singer Mesa (Robert Owen), and Bassist Sandy Dickerson (Sandy Rowe). After releasing their debut EP/Demo/Album, the band replaced Davey Knowles drummer Steven Barci with
Mad Season,
Screaming Trees, & Walking Papers drummer Barrett Martin and recorded two produced albums. One album self titled 'Big High' was recorded at
Avast Studios. The second still-unreleased album was recorded at Queen's of the Stoneage's Joshua Tree studio '
Rancho de la Luna'.
Ari Joshua founded
The Music Factory LLC in 2005, and moved the music education facility into a physical location on Madison Street in Seattle, WA in 2007. The Music Factory has taught over 40,000 music lessons to students of all ages, levels, & styles. The Music Factory has employed over 100 teachers and musicians for over a decade. (As of Dec. 2020)
Ari Joshua started a record label at The Music Factory called
Music Factory Records in 2010.
In 2011, Ari Joshua flew to Cape Town to collaborate with popstar aMF '
Freshly Ground
Freshlyground are a South African Afro-beat, Afro-fusion band that formed in Cape Town in 2002. The band members have different backgrounds, including South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Freshlyground's musical style blends elements of tradi ...
' front woman
Zolani Mahola. Pianist Kyle Shepperd, bassist Shane Cooper (Cards on Spokes) & drummer Jonno Swetman.
In 2012, Ari had a weekly residency playing guitar with legendary Santana drummer
Michael Shrieve's in his band. He continued to work with the band 'Spellbinder' off an on filling in for steady guitarist Danny Godinez.
In 2014 Ari Joshua began working with the band Mctuff, a boogaloo organ trio led by Joe Doria. He continues to work with this band as a rotating member to this day.
In 2019 Ari recorded with Delvon Lamarr, Skerik, and Grant Schroff.
In 2020 Ari Joshua launched a throwback series of releases under the name 'From the Vault'.
In February 2021, in the wake of Trey Anastasio's 'Beacon Jams' sessions in NYC, Ari was invited to Burlington, VT to collaborate with
Trey Anastasio Band, and Soule Monde bandmates Russ Lawton, & Ray Paczkowski at Tank Recording Company under the engineering of long time
PHISH
Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a dedicated fan base. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon ...
engineer Ben Collette. The trio recorded over 25 of Ari's original material.
October 2021,
R.A.a.R (Ray, Ari, and Russ) debuted as a live act during Halloween weekend in Las Vegas at the end of October, 2021. Singles 'Father Time', 'Star Lord' & 'Rae of Light' (written for Ari's 'Gramma Rae') have been released under Music Factory Records, and an EP of 6 new songs will be shared (as of November 2021 and will premier via
Relix Magazine).
In January 2022 Ari participated in 3 recording sessions on the east coast; one with John Medeski, Billy Martin, and Jason Fraticelli, one with Russ Lawton,& Ray Paczkowski, and one with Eden Ladin, John Morgan Kimock, & Andy Hess. Music will begin release schedule on Music Factory Records in 2023.
Played on Stage or Recorded with
Stone Gossard,
Michael Shrieve,
Joe Doria,
Barrett Martin,
Peter Buck,
Kevin Sawka
Kevin () is the anglicized form of the Irish masculine given name (; mga, Caoimhghín ; sga, Cóemgein ; Latinized as ). It is composed of "dear; noble"; Old Irish and ("birth"; Old Irish ).
The variant '' Kevan'' is anglicized from , a ...
,
Michael Kang,
The Benevento Russo Duo
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...
,
Anne Drummond
Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), ...
,
Tatum Greenblatt Tatum may refer to:
Places United States
*Tatum, Georgia, a ghost town
*Tatum, New Mexico, a town
*Tatum, South Carolina, a town
*Tatum, Texas, a city
*Mount Tatum, Alaska
Elsewhere
*Tatum, Cameroon, a village
* 3748 Tatum, an asteroid
People
*Ta ...
,
Manuel Valera
Manuel Valera (born October 17, 1980) is a Cuban pianist and composer.
Graduated from South Broward High School, Hollywood, FL
Biography
Valera was born in Havana, Cuba. Since 2000 he has lived in New York City, where he attended New School ...
,
Marcus Strickland,
EJ Strickland EJ may refer to:
Businesses and brands
* EJ (company), formerly East Jordan Iron Works
* eJay, a music software program
* New England Airlines (IATA code EJ)
* E & J Gallo Winery
* Holden EJ, an early Holden car
* Subaru EJ engine series, manufact ...
,
Reggie Watts
Reginald Lucien Frank Roger Watts (born March 23, 1972) is an American comedian, actor, beatboxer, and musician. His improvised musical sets are created using only his voice, a keyboard, and a looping machine. Watts refers to himself as a "disinf ...
,
Robert Glasper,
ill Gates,
Skerik,
Roy Hargrove
Roy Anthony Hargrove (October 16, 1969 – November 2, 2018) was an American jazz musician and composer whose principal instruments were the trumpet and flugelhorn. He achieved worldwide acclaim after winning two Grammy Awards for differing styles ...
,
DJ Swamp,
Keyon Harrold,
Blake Lewis,
Sir Mix-A-Lot,
Tom Morello,
Mike McCready,
Skerik,
Matt Butler's Everyone Orchestra,
David Tiller,
Matt Sircely,
New Monsoon
New Monsoon is a rock jam band that is based in the San Francisco, California area that was founded in 1998 by Penn State classmates Bo Carper and Jeff Miller.
History
During the recording of the band's first album Hydrophonic, Carper and Mil ...
,
Ralph Peterson,
David Brogen (ALO),
Shawn Smith
Shawn Smith may refer to:
*Shirley Patterson (1922 – 1995), a Canadian-born actress also known as Shawn Smith
* Shawn Smith (musician) (1965 – 2019), American singer, songwriter, and musician
*Shawn Smith (American football), a National Foot ...
,
Russ Lawton,
Ray Paczkowski
Ray Paczkowski is a keyboardist from Burlington, Vermont. He graduated from a Chatham, Massachusetts high school. A former milkman, Ray is part of the Jazz trio Vorcza, but is best known for playing in various bands with Phish guitarist Trey Anas ...
,
Delvon Lamarr,
Galen Clarke,
Lonnie Smith Lonnie Smith may refer to:
* Lonnie Smith (baseball) (born 1955), American baseball player
* Lonnie Smith (boxer) (born 1962), American boxer
* Lonnie Smith (organist) (1942–2021), American organist
* Lonnie Liston Smith (born 1940), American jaz ...
,
Rashied Ali,
Marco Benevento
Marco Benevento (born July 22, 1977) is an American pianist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, who has been a fixture of the New York experimental music rock and jazz scene since 1999. He is the founder and recording e ...
,
John Medeski,
Billy Martin,
Joe Russo,
Damion Reid
Damion Reid (born June 16, 1979) is an American drummer. Critics have praised his "controlled fury" and "microscopically complex beats."
Biography
Damion Reid was born June 16, 1979 in West Covina, California, east of Los Angeles, into a musica ...
,
Jason Fraticelli,
Delvon Lamarr,
KJ Sawka,
Russ Lawton,
Andy Hess,
Eden Ladin,
John Kimock
Ari has worked with members of Medeski, Martin, & Wood, Santana, JRAD, Brad, Satchel, Handful of Lovin, Soule Monde, The Trey Anastasio Band (TAB), Pearl Jam, REM, Rage Against the Machine, Audio Slave, Pendulum, Destroid, Jrad, Screaming Trees, Mad Season, Sleater-Kinney, and more.
Studied with
Richie Beirach,
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist, who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era.
Biography
Born in Philadel ...
,
Reggie Workman,
Ted Dunbar,
Jack Wilkins,
Vic Juris,
Hal Galper,
Jimmy Owens,
Milo Petersen,
George Garzone
George Garzone (born September 23, 1950) is a saxophonist and jazz educator from Boston, Massachusetts.
Biography
Garzone is a member of the Fringe, a jazz trio founded in 1972 that includes bassist John Lockwood and drummer Bob Gullotti. T ...
,
Armen Donelian
Armen Hrant Donelian (born December 1, 1950) is a jazz pianist, composer, educator and author.
Donelian was classically trained at the Westchester Conservatory of Music in White Plains, New York. He has appeared since 1975 as a featured soloist a ...
,
Richard Boukas,
Bobby Sanabria
Bobby Sanabria (born June 2, 1957) is an American drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, producer, educator, activist, radio show host of Puerto Rican descent who specializes in jazz and Latin jazz.
Biography
Sanabria was born in the South ...
,
Bill Kirshner,
Jimmy Cobb,
Gary Dial, Classical Guitarist Virginia Luque,
Ralph Peterson,
Noah Baerman,
Larry Ridly,
Mike Richmond Mike Richmond may refer to:
* Mike Richmond (musician) (born 1948), American jazz bassist
* Mike Richmond (speed skater) (born 1960)
{{Hndis, Richmond, Mike ...
,
Ralph Bowen,
Bill Fielder
Bill(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States)
* Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature
* Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer
* Bill, a bird or animal's beak
Pla ...
,
Badal Roy
Badal Roy ( bn, বাদল রায়; born Amarendra Roy Chowdhury; 16 October 1939 – 18 January 2022) was an Indian tabla player, percussionist, and recording artist known for his work in jazz, world music, and experimental music.
B ...
,
Robert Bedford,
Wayne Krantz
Wayne Krantz is an American guitarist and composer. He has performed and recorded with Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Donald Fagen, Billy Cobham, Chris Potter, David Binney, and Carla Bley. Since the early 1990s, Krantz has focused primarily on ...
, and many, many more.
Other Gear
**
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment, and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on 18 April 1972. In 2005, its headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. It has fact ...
VG-99
**
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment, and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on 18 April 1972. In 2005, its headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. It has fact ...
GR-30
**
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment, and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on 18 April 1972. In 2005, its headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. It has fact ...
Micro Cube
**
Taylor Guitars Taylor Acoustic
**
Mesa Boogie DC.50
**
Mesa Boogie Mark Series Vintage Mark III
**
Mesa Boogie Mark Series Vintage Mark IV
**
Kelstone Keystone
**
Languedoc Guitar Launguedoc Custom Guitar
**
fender hollow-body guitar Fender Hollow Body
**
1961 Les Paul Vintage Les Paul
**
Monger Fooger moog pedals
**
NY XL D'adarrio strings
**
1960's Guild Guitar
**
Game Changer Audio Pedal Plus
Discography
Early Days
*''
Roosevelt Jazz Band''
*''Solidification'' Acidophilus Culture (1995)
*''
Live at Chez Oskar'' Ari Joshua Trio (2000)
*''
Open Road From Here'' Senior Thesis (2001)
*''
East vs West'' The Fort Green Project (2002)
Side Man / Compilation
*''ATMA'' Atma (2004)
*''
Both Live'' Stone Gossard Solo (2009)
*''Beautiful Lady'' Sound vs Silence Vol. 2 (2009)
*''Clockwork'' Slow Bunny (2011)
Sound vs Silence
/ref>
Hathead
*'' Hathead'' Hathead (2004)
Swampdweller
*'' Swampdweller'' Swampdweller (2004)
*'' My Favorite Monster'' Swampdweller (2007)
*'' Circular Data'' Remix by DJ SWAMP (2007)
AriSawkaDoria
*'' Chapter One'' AriSawkaDoria (2006)
*'' Round Midnight'' AriSawkaDoria (2019)
Big High
*'' Big High EP'' Big High (2008)
*''Big High'' Big High (2010)
From The Vault
*'' Say Watcha Wanna Say'' Ari Joshua Organ Quartet (feat Delvon Lamarr, Skerik, & Grant Schroff) (2019)
*''Home'' Space Owl (2014)
*''Eyes Only'' Robert Glasper, KJ Sawka, Jason Fraticelli (2021)
*''Contact'' Robert Glasper, KJ Sawka, Jason Fraticelli (2022)
*''I Will Come To You'' Space Owl (2014)
*''Thunder and Lightning'' Space Owl (2014)
*''Circular Data'' (feat. swampdweller, Marc Fendel, Reggie Watts, Joe Doria, Andy Sells, Farko Dosumov, Jay Roulston, Larry Mahlis, John Wicks & John Fricke) (2004)
*''Why Does Love Always Break Your Heart'' Space Owl (2014)
Ari Joshua Quartet
*'' Impulse'' Ari Joshua Organ Quartet (feat Joel Bean, Jonti Siman, & Will Lone) (2020)
*'' Siblings'' Ari Joshua Organ Quartet (feat Joel Bean, Jonti Siman, & Will Lone) (2022)
*'' Walmart Dinosaurs'' Ari Joshua Organ Quartet (feat Joel Bean, Jonti Siman, & Will Lone) (2020)
RAaR*
*feat Ray Paczkowsk, & Russ Lawton (Soule Monde, Trey Anastasio Band)
*''Father Time'' Ari Joshua's R.A.a.R (2021)
*''Star Lord'' R.A.a.R (2021)
*'' Rae of Light'' Ari Joshua/R.A.a.R (2021)
*'' RaAR EP'' Ari Joshua/R.A.a.R (2021)
*''Burlington Coat Factory'' R.A.a.R (2021)
*''The Saga of Milly and Fee Part I - Peruvian Love Song (feat. Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski & Soule Monde) '' R.A.a.R (2022)
*''The Saga of Milly and Fee Part II - The Prodigy (feat. Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski & Soule Monde) '' R.A.a.R (Jan 2023)
*''The Clinic'' R.A.a.R (Jan 2023)
Ari Joshua, Billy Martin, & Jason Fraticelli
*'' Into the Void'' (2022)
*'' The Garden'' (2022)
The Bunker Sessions
*'' Eye Just Called To Soul, I Love You'' (feat. John Morgan Kimock, Andy Hess & Eden Ladin)(Jan 2023)
Ari Joshua, Billy Martin, John Medeski, & Jason Fraticelli
*'' Meeting of The Minds''(Feb 2023)
References
External links
The Big High official website
The Ari Joshua official website
The Ari Zucker official website
The Music Factory's official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joshua Zucker, Ari
Living people
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
Musicians from Cape Town
Musicians from Seattle
Year of birth missing (living people)
The New School alumni
Mason Gross School of the Arts alumni
Guitarists from Washington (state)