Name:
Papa Josh
Hometown:
Bloomington,
Indiana, planet Earth
Pique:
When did you
first get to the Sea to Sky region, and what brought you here?
PJ:
I came to Whistler
late summer of 2003 to play the Zoophorous Festival with San Francisco
funk/rock/fusion group Global Funk. I fell in love with a crazy Whistler girl
and got tired of bumming around in a van with three other headstrong musicians.
In fall of ’04, I moved to the most beautiful, inspiring place I've ever seen.
Pique:
What’s your
instrument of choice (a.k.a. what do you play)?
PJ:
Guitar. I also
play drums, bass, percussion and vocals.
Pique:
How were you
introduced to music?
PJ:
When my parents
first brought me home, they put me between their stereo speakers and bombarded
my ears with the best music of the ’60s and early ’70s. A few years down the
road I picked up tennis rackets and rocked along to all that terrible early
’80s casio pop. When I was about nine years old, my grandfather passed on
his old electric guitar and Fender amp. I began worshipping the guitar gods,
Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Clapton, Santana. My high school exposed me to jazz
and I slowly warmed up to swing rhythms and sophisticated harmony. Then I
started checking out James Brown and got my jones for the funk. I had a
three-piece band in high school that played rock covers and some
originals. We played some bar gigs and then I would sit in with some of
the local blues bands. I always had a huge passion for playing lead guitar and
a thirst for playing soulful, mind blowing shit. I still love it, but I also
like to just groove. I did the music school thing and was extremely
fortunate to study with Garaj Mahal guitarist Fareed Haque, who cut out the
bullshit and taught me what I
needed
to know. I've played
with fantastic musicians over the years and always absorb as much as I can.
Pique:
How do you
describe your sound?
PJ:
Funk'N'Groove. It's
funky, hard hitting, R&B with interwoven jazz sounds. It's mind, booty and
soul music.
Pique:
I understand
that you also spent a few years living in an ashram while studying. How did
this experience contribute to your music?
PJ:
Initially, it was
all about diving into the inner world of creativity, emotions, passions,
imagination. It allowed me the space and time to detach from my upbringing
and develop my own perspective on life, the universe and everything. I also
became obsessed with learning how to breathe, you know, bring in oxygen and
feel what's inside this form.
Pique:
You also spent
quite a few years traveling with your music. What made you finally settle down
in Pemberton?
PJ:
If I ever need
inspiration, I just step outside and feel glacier-fed air hitting my
face. Besides, the coolest, most awesome, down to earth people I've ever
met live here. I really appreciate that Pemberton is focused on being
self-sustaining. What do you need? Food, clothing, heat, music, art,
community, family. The only thing in short supply here is shelter.
Pique:
When you aren’t
on stage, where can people find you hanging out?
PJ:
Hot springs, on a
trail, by the river, at the lake, having a beer at the closest watering hole
(The Pony is indeed my most frequent haunt), parties, bonfires, playgrounds. If
I get lucky and score a pass I'll be on the slopes too.
Pique:
Where do you
find the inspiration for your music?
PJ: My son Idris and wife Sabra most of all, but I find it
everywhere. Inspiration is when you align with the universe so that its energy
can flow through you. I used to think it had to be a big dramatic epiphany. Now
I know that form and size matter not.
Pique:
What were some
of the biggest challenges you faced with bringing your music (funk/jazz/soul)
to a mainly rock/punk scene?
PJ:
Everyone doing
something creative is up against a huge challenge no matter where they
are. I just keep on the path before me and do my best. Funk is an
irresistible force and I am blessed to be tapped into its secrets. I have great
response from my crowds because I play uplifting music that feels good. The
biggest challenge is getting people to realize what I'm going to be
doing. They don't think dance party when they think of one guy playing
live. Dancing creates experiences I'm doing this solo show because it's
the best way for me to conjure up a great celebration.
Pique:
Over the years,
though, you must have managed to find some fellow gems hidden in the area, who
do you perform with now, when you get a chance?
PJ:
I have secret
hookups with Eric Stephenson, the bass player from Redeye and Themasses. I have
jammed with quite a few people around here, but haven't settled into anything
regular. I need the funk and some of those jazz harmonies and they take getting
used to.
Pique:
Hit shuffle on
your Ipod – what are the first three songs you come across?
PJ:
"Deck
Shoes" - Greyboy Allstars, "De La Bass" - Mark Fahrina,
"Mind Control" - Stephen Marley.
Pique:
What’s your
favourite song to perform?
PJ:
Original:
"Wunderland"; Cover: "Use Me", Bill Withers
Pique
: What’s your
favourite venue in town, and why?
PJ:
It
was
The Boot. You could feel the cumulative magic of all the shows that went
down there. The GLC has a good setup for live music. Bill's has great
vibe. It's swanky. It would be great to see them focus more on live music. I
love playing at the Pemberton Hotel. It's a good place to let loose. Did I
mention I heart the Pony?
Pique:
What’s been the
most memorable performance of your career?
PJ:
I have a few, for
different reasons. The most joyful musical experience I've had, when all the
stars were truly aligned, was sitting in with Jules Broussard, a sax player
from Ray Charles’s band, in Mill Valley, CA the day after I was done with
Global Funk. Everything the drummer played made me feel great and I
couldn't help playing better than I ever had. Playing an evening slot prior
to John McLaughlin at the 2003 Monterey Jazz Fest was huge. Playing the
sunrise set at the Howlin' Wolf during the ’03 New Orleans jazz fest was a
blast, an absolute riot. Jamming with Garaj Mahal at the Boot can't be beat!
Pique:
What musician
(alive or dead) would you like to jam with?
PJ:
I'll take Idris
Muhammed on drums, Herbie Hancock on keyboards, with Paul Jackson and Bootsy
Collins trading off on the bass.
Pique:
Do you have any
upcoming performances or projects on the horizon?
PJ:
I'm opening for
Garaj Mahal Dec. 29 at the GLC and Dec. 30 at Richard's on Richards in
Vancouver, then doing a NYE show at Ric's Grille in Whistler. I'll be doing my
own night at the Crystal Lounge Thursday, Jan 15 and at the Pemberton Hotel
Friday, Jan. 16. Blusirkut is going to do a Pacific NW tour in March or April
which will hopefully include some shows up here.
Pique:
Anything else
you’d like to add?
PJ:
Check out my
website to listen to tracks and keep up to date on upcoming shows:
www.PapaJosh.com. I'm also offering some music classes at the Pemberton
Community Centre in January.
