Recorded at the Grammy Award-winning Maze Studios in Atlanta, ‘Samurai’ is a record that celebrates the intersection of Jazz and Hip Hop. A 5-piece contemporary jazz band provides a canvas for eight members of the Atlanta hip hop scene to paint their picture and tell their story.
The album stems from over a year of writing and studio sessions that Josiah organized with featured Atlanta rappers Shalom Little, DK, Abib Jahleel, Truth Hayes, Enya Absi, Rhonnie O’Neal, AUDIADASOUND & Squallé. The band is composed of musicians from the Atlanta school of “Reverence” – a culture of respect, tolerance, and freedom – including Marquinn Mason, known for performing with Kamaal Williams.
“Each vocalist was asked to do one thing: tell their truth. The words you hear are not my words - they are the words of the reality of life in America and even around the world. The album is an honest journey through love, loss, grief and a determination to “chase all our dreams ‘till our legs ache””.
"The boundaries between jazz and hip hop are completely and sublimely blurred in this 11 track banger where both genres are manifested with some serious quality from an artist who not only sees no boundaries but occupies his musical ground in a completely new and unique way"
Josiah Soren Garrett is a bass player, beat maker, creator, and published author from Atlanta, GA. Josiah has collaborated with artists from all over the United States across a variety of genres, including rock and roll, funk, and hip hop. He has published an educational book with Mel bay Publishing and continues to self-publish articles about the Music Industry and beyond. Josiah Soren is the bandleader for an alternative jazz quintet featuring Dallas Dawson on drums, Marquinn Mason on saxophone, Jacob Hurlock on piano, and Chris Marks on electric guitar. Josiah Soren’s music is recommended if you like Yussef Dayes, Kamaal Williams, Nubya Garcia, Badbadnotgood, and Ezra Collective. In early 2024, Josiah Soren will release their debut album SAMURAI, a collection of songs and stories from the underground Atlanta hip hop and jazz community.