If youโve ever craved a hot, smoky dose of soul-fried funk, Instant Soul has the dish, and โPork Fatโ is the sizzler on the platter. Guitarist Ari Joshua pulls longtime partners-in-groove Delvon Lamarr, Skerik, and Grant Schroff back into the kitchen for a fresh-cooked jam. This is the real-deal stew, brewed from years of sweat-soaked club sets across the Pacific Northwest.
Right from the jump, โPork Fatโ oozes personality. Delvonโs Hammond organ growls and hums with gritty soul, like itโs got stories of its own. Ariโs guitar creeps in as a solo with such emotional resonance in its swinging, winding, churning bends. Schroff holds it all down with that slick, syncopated drumming that makes your shoulders move. It fades to let Skerikโs horns come playing a low-key catchy, kinda relaxing, and feel-good rhythm over the Hammond organ. And guess what, the rhythm shifts again. The guitar returns as the horns go, and plays a more sexy, moody, and thicker melody.
Itโs no surprise the track feels so locked in. These guys have history, and it shows. โPork Fatโ was a staple in Ari and Delvonโs early trio sets. You bet it used to leave rooms steamy with all that joy radiating. This new recording adds more bite, as Skerikโs sax brings extra weight and flair, thickening the sound without overpowering it.
Captured live in one session and polished just enough to shine without sanding off the grit, the track has that perfect balance of raw and refined. Mell Dettmer engineered it with a sharp ear, while Jason Grayโs mix and Doug Krebsโ mastering give it that punch you feel in your chest. Throw in Chris Ballโs cover art nodding to its deep-fried roots, and youโve got a full-package funk fest.
โPork Fatโ brought back past smoke to burn like a fiery rhythm. Check it out on YouTube.
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Photo Credit: Michael Profitt
Review by: Naomi Joan