There are moments in music when everything just clicks — where the chemistry between players is so intuitive, so electric, that the performance feels less like something planned and more like something summoned. That’s exactly what happens on “Blurry Face,” the latest release from Ari Joshua, out now via Music Factory Records. Featuring two-thirds of the iconic jazz-fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood — John Medeski on keys and Billy Martin on drums — this track doesn’t just groove. It glows, combusts, and transports.
Recorded in a single live take at Applehead Studios, “Blurry Face” is a raw, psychedelic jam that captures three master musicians speaking a language all their own. With no second takes, no digital gloss, and no fear of the unknown, this is the kind of spontaneous artistry that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s music climate. It’s a snapshot of a moment — unfiltered, unedited, and completely alive.
The foundation of the track is a loop conceived by Billy Martin and released as part of his Loops from the Underground collection. That loop becomes the fertile soil on which Ari Joshua plants his guitar wizardry, letting his phat, fuzzed-out tone slice through the air with both aggression and grace. Meanwhile, Medeski’s clavinet funks things up with gritty stabs and syncopated sizzle, and his organ swells take the entire jam to a higher, more cosmic plane. Joshua holds his own in this heavyweight lineup, never overpowering, always listening, and intuitively threading his voice into the sonic tapestry.
“You never know when your dreams may come true,” says Joshua. “You plant a seed and it just may bring a great tree. If you do it right, the tree may bring sweet fruits—and more seeds for more trees.” That sense of spiritual patience and musical cultivation permeates “Blurry Face” — it’s less a song and more a ritual, a groove-laced meditation on collaboration, risk, and reward.
This track is the latest in a string of releases from Ari Joshua that showcase his ongoing collaboration with Medeski, Martin, and bassist Jason Fraticelli, building a rich and varied catalog of forward-thinking compositions under the Music Factory Records banner. More than just a one-off, “Blurry Face” is part of a larger creative ecosystem — and this spring, that ecosystem is blooming in full force.
On May 9, Music Factory Records will release SWYWS, a new single from The All’s Eye, a cryptic and cinematic outfit that blends experimental textures with deep grooves and lush harmonic storytelling. Then, on May 23, Joshua returns with Reversible Submersible, another collaborative piece featuring Medeski & Martin — but this time with a twist. Unlike the live immediacy of “Blurry Face,” this follow-up is a more sculpted studio creation, enriched with experimental edits, outboard effects, and a deeply immersive vibe. It promises to offer a new lens into the same musical minds, revealing just how versatile and boundary-pushing this trio can be.
Looking even further ahead, fans of adventurous, genre-blending jazz can rejoice: this summer will see the release of a full-length LP from saxophonist Peter Daniel, another rising voice in the Music Factory Records roster. Known for his rich tone and fearless improvisational approach, Daniel’s upcoming project is shaping up to be a must-listen for fans of modern instrumental music.
All these releases — and more — can be found through the label’s digital home base, www.musicfactoryrecords.com, a hub for discovering boundary-breaking music from some of the most exciting talents on the scene today.
But for now, “Blurry Face” stands as a lightning strike in the ever-expanding sky of Ari Joshua’s artistic vision. It’s a track that’s equal parts grit and groove, dream and dirt, structure and surrender. For those craving something real — something played, not programmed — “Blurry Face” delivers in spades. It’s a conversation between giants, and we’re lucky enough to be listening in.
