The 2024 Pastorius Park concert season sponsored by Temple Health Chestnut Hill Hospital comes to a close on Wednesday, July 31, but not before one final celebration. The music of the Joseph Arnold String Quartet is just that; a celebration. With a repertoire that encompasses traditional classical arrangements, original compositions, and string arrangements of pop hits, Joseph Arnold String Quartet champions creativity and the immense power of live music to connect with listeners. 

Veteran Pastorius Park concertgoers might recognize Joseph Arnold from years’ past. Arnold performed on the Pastorius concert stage twice during its 2023 season, as part of the Gypsy Jazz ensemble Hot Club of Philadelphia and again as part of the Joseph Arnold String Quartet, in that group’s debut show. To see them live that night, one would never know the outfit was taking the stage together for the first time. This is because the Joseph Arnold String Quartet brings to the stage the same loose interplay he brings to a jazz band like the Hot Club of Philadelphia. Jazz permeates Arnold’s music, from his original compositions like “Buttermilk Biscuits' ' and “Mr. Grim' ' to the way he and the musicians he shares the stage with listen to and play off of each other. A Joseph Arnold String Quartet is less a studied recital, and more akin to a jam session. The quartet listens to each other and plays off one another, providing their performances with liveliness and spontaneity not usually associated with classical.

The result is a live performance that connects immediately with the listener. This connection goes beyond the quartet’s play style and can be seen as Joseph Arnold’s guiding philosophy. Arnold believes deeply in the profound impact that the arts can have on the individual and society at large. He’s quite literally written the book on the subject. Slated for release in August of this year, “Soulforce:  How to Discover Your Artistic Purpose, Create More Freely, and Make Art that Matters” hopes to serve as a guide for artists to help them connect with their work and its importance. Citing the works of artists and teachers ranging from Julia Cameron to music producer Rick Rubin, to Mahatma Gandhi, with “Soul Force,”Arnold seeks to teach a holistic approach to creativity and the arts.

Of course, the best argument for Arnold’s methods is in the bands playing, and in the vitality they add to popular staples. Their interpretation of the theme from “Rocky” was one of the highlights of last year’s concert, and their version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” anchored the show, breathing new life into a tried-and-true classic rock radio staple.

The Joseph Arnold Quartet will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. and perform two sets with a 15-minute intermission in between. The Pastorius Park Concert series is hosted by the Chestnut Hill Community Association, with Temple Health Chestnut Hill Hospital as the concert’s main sponsor. Concerts in Pastorius Park are free to attend, though donations to the Chestnut Hill Community Association are appreciated. The Chestnut Hill Community Association would like to thank all their sponsors for their support of the 2024 Pastorius Park concert series.