AriSawkaDoria. The name alone sounds like an incantation, a summoning of something… interesting. This trio—KJ Sawka, he of Pendulum and Destroid percussive prowess, Joe Doria, finger-dancing on the Hammond B3, and Ari Joshua, weaving guitar spells, it made no sense and perfect sense on paper. Their latest offering? A single, “Naima.” Coltrane’s “Naima.” Bold. Did someone order a plate of unexpected sonic delights? Because that’s approximately what I’ve been served.
It’s jazz, sure, but stretched and pulled like taffy in a funhouse mirror. You recognize the core—that gorgeous, haunting melody—but it’s viewed through this kaleidoscopic lens of modern jazz, acid jazz sensibilities and… is that a hint of downtempo chill? Yes, my friends, let’s lounge in its laid-back aura.
The emotional core of Coltrane’s original is absolutely intact. This isn’t some cold, technical exercise. The random, smooth interplay of guitar organ and drums created a unique juxtaposition, similar to a good red and some cheese.
AriSawkaDoria isn’t recreating “Naima” so much as channeling its ghost through a prism of their combined experiences. There is respect, but there is a refusal to create something stale or predictable.
There’s a certain magic here, a serendipitous collision of talents and tastes. A feeling as comfortable as snuggling under an electric blanket for the first time.
This track proves something quite simple. The best tributes are the things that do what they’re designed to do, without question, fear, or favour, using everything in its right place and making it so simple. This leaves us wondering… what other spirits will they conjure next?
Follow AriSawkaDoria on Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp and Instagram.
