Jazz Articles about Snarky Puppy

About Snarky Puppy

Catching Up With

Michael League: Lighting the Spark of Snarky Puppy

by Scott Lichtman
July 28, 2026

Together for over 20 years, Snarky Puppy has long set the bar for “propulsive" music. The band's genre is mainly a mix of jazz fusion and funk, with influences of progressive rock, gospel, world and even symphonic music. Its sound is quickly identifiable by the catchy grooves, effortlessly shifting meters and polyrhythms, crisp yet elastic horns, and virtuosic solos from the keyboardists, guitarists, drummers, and other members. No matter the song feel, Snarky Puppy delivers an adrenalin rush audiences through ...

In Pictures

John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival Fourteenth Year

by La-Faithia White
October 6, 2025

A collection of photos from the John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival in High Point, NC Saturday August 30th, 2025 featuring Snarky Puppy, Lizz Wright and Meshell Ndegeocello, The HeadHunters, Clint Holmes, Nnenna Freelon, Take 6, and the John Coltrane Youth Jazz Workshop. Labor Day weekend marked the kickoff of the fourteenth annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival in High Point, NC. The weather was picture perfect, with bright sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Returning to ...

Radio & Podcasts

New music with Chronojazz, Mr Motaba, Marl Lettieri, Casiopea, Ghost Rhythms and more

by Len Davis
September 28, 2025

Today on Bitches Brew Radio--direct from Melbourne, Australia--we're serving up a full lineup of brand-new global releases in the world of progressive jazz, fusion, and beyond. We kick things off with Chronojazz, the latest from London-based guitarist Ross Lardner, whose Holdsworth-inspired phrasing sets the tone for a night of sonic exploration. From Germany, Yuval Ron brings his powerful guitar voice to the mix, followed by Mr Motaba from Sao Paulo Brazil, delivering their latest release with unmistakable Brazilian Flair. Next, ...

Live Review

Snarky Puppy at the Ogden Theater

by Geoff Anderson
October 6, 2023

Snarky Puppy Ogden Theater Denver, Colorado September 30, 2023 Originality seems to be a guiding force for Snarky Puppy. That applies not just to the type of music they play in general, but it goes all the way down to preparation of set lists. Saturday night at the Ogden Theater, band leader, bassist and spokesman for the group, Michael League went out of his way to review with the audience past gigs in Denver and ...

Album Review

Snarky Puppy: Empire Central

Read "Empire Central" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
October 3, 2022

A diciotto anni dalla nascita, gli Snarky Puppy sono tornati a Dallas —luogo d'origine della formazione— per registrare un nuovo album scegliendo l'approccio preferito: quel “live in the studio" con pubblico in sala che ha caratterizzato le loro opere migliori. Quindi otto notti alla Deep Ellum Art Company per mettere a punto 16 nuovi brani, ora pubblicati in doppio album, in triplo vinile. Il disco privilegia il ritorno ai valori musicali originari: una fusion ...

Album Review

Snarky Puppy: Immigrance

Read "Immigrance" reviewed by Josh Deakin

by Josh Deakin
January 22, 2021

Three years after their last release, Snarky Puppy's thirteenth studio album Immigrance makes a statement as a standard for jazz fusion that all modern artists should take note of. The opening track, “Chonks," sets the tone of the record with a fierce drum fill from Larnell Lewis which is reminiscent of reggae tones, an aesthetic which Snarky Puppy enjoy teasing on occasion. The record keeps pace as it weaves together the collection of songs which gives the illusion ...

Live Review

The GroundUp Music Festival 2019

by Mike Jacobs
March 12, 2019

GroundUp Music Festival 2019 North Beach Bandshell, Park Stage Miami Beach, FL February 8-10, 2019 An internet acquaintance has a running post gag that she labels with #BecauseFlorida. In it she basically puts forth all of the unattractive, wacky and head-scratching reports that come out of the Sunshine State. It IS funny (and seemingly never at a loss for material) but I suspect you could easily paint many a state as a ...