If you’ve ever craved a hot, smoky dose of soul-fried funk, Instant Soul has the dish, and “Pork Fat” 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, “Pork Fat” oozes personality. Delvon’s Hammond organ growls and hums with gritty soul, like it’s got stories of its own. Ari’s 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 Skerik’s 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.
It’s no surprise the track feels so locked in. These guys have history, and it shows. “Pork Fat” was a staple in Ari and Delvon’s early trio sets. You bet it used to leave rooms steamy with all that joy radiating. This new recording adds more bite, as Skerik’s 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 Gray’s mix and Doug Krebs’ mastering give it that punch you feel in your chest. Throw in Chris Ball’s cover art nodding to its deep-fried roots, and you’ve got a full-package funk fest.
“Pork Fat” 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