If there’s ever been a song that feels like a sacred ritual in rock history, it’s ‘Voodoo Chile’. And when someone dares to revisit its thunderous soul, the bar is sky-high. But Ari Joshua isn’t here to play it safe. Teaming up with groove heavyweights Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton- stalwarts of the Trey Anastasio Band- Joshua steps into the fire and emerges with something that honours and expands Hendrix’s legacy.
This rendition of ‘Voodoo Chile’ isn’t your typical homage- it’s a molten, freeform trip that plays like a séance for the 60s, with the trio conjuring the original’s restless energy through their own fearless lens. Joshua’s fretwork is full of grit and finesse, dripping in fuzz and feel, while Paczkowski’s keys swirl like incense smoke around Lawton’s deep-pocketed, unshakeable drumming. The result is a track that feels entirely alive; sweaty, spontaneous, and locked in from the first downbeat.
What sets this version apart is how uncontrived it feels. According to Joshua, the whole thing was captured in a single pass, a decision that gives the track its edge and pulse. It’s less of a cover and more of a resurrection. Where many interpretations aim to polish or modernise, this one leans into the murk and mysticism, embracing the dirt under the fingernails of rock history.
Paczkowski’s Hammond tones are especially mesmerising, and Lawton provides a heartbeat that keeps the whole affair from spinning off into the ether. Meanwhile, Joshua plays with a looseness that’s rooted in total control, pushing the guitar into squalling, expressive territory without ever losing the plot.
The track joins a growing constellation of recent material from Joshua and the Music Factory orbit, each release is another portal into a genre-bending universe where jam culture, psychedelia, jazz, and soul collide. From the space-funk of ‘Star Lord’ to the tender spirit of ‘Rae of Light’, this is a trio that thrives on chemistry and a shared appetite for sonic adventure.
What ‘Voodoo Chile’ ultimately proves is that Hendrix’s fire still burns, but in the hands of the right musicians, it can also take on new shapes, new shimmers. If you’ve ever wanted to hear what it sounds like when reverence meets reinvention, this is it. Play it loud. Let it swirl. Let it burn.
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Summary
Tour Dates:
4.10 Kris Yunker Band Brattleboro, NY
4.11 The All’s Eye with Blahsom Brooklyn, NY
4.12 The All’s Eye supporting Kung Fu Bridgeport, CT
4.18 Ari Joshua Band Seattle, WA
4.19 Ari Joshua Band Seattle, WA
