Hailing from the unassuming Texas town that produced
Roy Orbison, The Eagles, Brave Combo, and Blood,
Sweat, & Tears, Snarky Puppy is spreading its
infectious blend of jazz, soul, and world music to an
audience hungry for something creative and inspiring.
Made up mostly of former music students from the
highly esteemed University of North Texas
(affectionately referred to as "the Juilliard of the
South"), the band effortlessly blends a strong sense
of musicality and virtuosity with raw, organic musical
instincts. The 9-piece group is doing something very
relevant, and something very honest- they're making
music as a generation immersed in diversity. Bjork,
Dave Holland, D'Angelo, Wayne Krantz, Pat Metheny,
Lettuce, and Radiohead resonate within the
compositions to form the unified, unique, soulful
sound that is unmistakably Snarky Puppy.
The group was formed in 2004 by award-winning bassist
and composer Michael League, and immediately gained
the support of a large, diverse audience. The group
has released two albums and one live, full-length DVD
on SiTMoM Records to heavy critical acclaim. In summer
of 2007, Snarky Puppy added legendary keyboardists
Bernard Wright and Robert "Sput" Searight (of Erykah
Badu and Snoop Dogg) to the lineup as the sound of the
ensemble has continued to grow and mature.
Outside of Snarky Puppy, the band members have
performed with some of the biggest names in jazz and
popular music, including Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck,
Sting, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Eddie Gomez, Maria
Schneider, Roberta Flack, Dave Douglas, Phil Woods,
Marcus Miller, Maynard Ferguson, Bill Holman,
Morcheeba, Headhunters, Chaka Khan, Jimmy Cobb, Marc
Johnson, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson,
"Snooky" Young, Lenny White, and countless more.
Snarky Puppy is maintaining a heavy tour schedule
while preparing the release their third album.
They have shared the stage with Victor Wooten, Herbie
Hancock's Headhunters, Rudder, Zach Brock, Ari Hoenig
& Punk Bop, the Chris Tarry Group, Mingo Fishtrap, and
many more.
