Pigeon Spins Hip Hop: Blurry Face

Ari Joshua, John Medeski & Billy Martin Capture Raw Improvisation on “Blurry Face”.

Music Factory Records proudly announces the release of “Blurry Face”, a captivating new trio track from Ari Joshua, featuring John Medeski (organ, clavinet) and Billy Martin (drums), legendary members of the groundbreaking jazz-improv group Medeski Martin & Wood. Tracked live in a single take at Applehead Studios, the performance captures the urgency, risk, and connection that define great improvisational music.

Billy Martin, known for his deep groove sensibility and polyrhythmic mastery, has long bridged the worlds of jazz, funk, and experimental percussion. His extensive career includes work with the Lounge Lizards, teaching at Drummers Collective, and decades redefining the role of the drum set in improvised music. His hypnotic loop—first heard in Loops from the Underground—serves as the foundation for the track.

John Medeski, a graduate of the New England Conservatory and veteran of bands with Dewey Redman, Jaco Pastorius, and John Scofield, brings his unmistakable keyboard voice to the session. His clavinet bounces with joyful grit, while his organ swells shimmer with psychedelic warmth and modal depth.

At the heart of it all is Ari Joshua, a versatile guitarist and composer whose background in jazz, psych rock, and avant-garde music shapes his distinctive voice. On “Blurry Face”, his guitar tone is unapologetically phat—equal parts fuzz and finesse—interacting with the rhythm section in a conversation rooted in mutual respect and exploratory spirit.

“You never know when your dreams may come true,” says Joshua. “You plant a seed and it just may bring a great tree.”

To celebrate the launch, they’re offering a unique opportunity for musicians and fans. Alongside the release, they're giving away a free play-along jam track—with the solos removed—plus the full sheet music for the tune.

This is part of a new direction for the label: creating a more interactive experience with behind-the-scenes content and special extras that bring fans deeper into the music-making process.

You’re invited to download the track, record your own version, and share it with them. Select performances will be featured on their website and social media channels, and Ari Joshua will be providing feedback personally.

Let’s connect through creativity and build a community around the music.

Join the jam at: musicfactoryrecords.com