Results for "Snarky Puppy"

Snarky Puppy

The last four years have brought dramatic changes for Snarky Puppy. After a decade of relentless touring and recording in all but complete obscurity, the Texas-bred/New York-based quasi-collective suddenly found itself held up by the press and public as one of the major figures in the jazz world. But as the category names for all three of the band’s Grammy® awards would indicate (Best R&B Performance in 2014, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2016 and 2017), Snarky Puppy isn’t exactly a jazz band. It’s not a fusion band, and it’s definitely not a jam band. It’s probably best to take Nate Chinen of the New York Times’ advice, as stated in an online discussion about the group, to “take them for what they are, rather than judge them for what they’re not.” Snarky Puppy is a collective of sorts with as many as 25 members in regular rotation

Bereket Abebe

Bereket Abebe, born in 1997, is a highly accomplished jazz bassist known for his funk, slap, and melodic playing style. Originally from Ethiopia, Bereket grew up surrounded by a rich church musical center, which heavily influenced his passion for jazz.

From a young age, Bereket was drawn to the deep, resonant sound of the bass and began learning the instrument in his early teens. He quickly excelled, impressing local musicians with his natural talent and ability to effortlessly hold down the rhythm section.

In his early twenties, Bereket moved to Addis Ababa City to pursue a career in jazz. He immersed himself in the city's vibrant jazz scene and began collaborating with some of the finest musicians in the genre. His intricate yet groovy bass lines became sought after, and he soon found himself in high demand for live performances and recording sessions.

Umbria Jazz: mezzo secolo

by Libero Farnè
July 20, 2023

Umbria Jazz 2023 Varie sedi Perugia 7--16.7.2023 50 anni di Umbria Jazz e 90 del suo fondatore e direttore artistico Carlo Pagnotta: un evento unico, festeggiato con un'edizione veramente speciale, ricca di musica e di iniziative collaterali, che ha superato nella programmazione come nella partecipazione del pubblico i livelli degli ultimi ...

2023 Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival

by Richard Conde
July 12, 2023

Celebrating its 46th anniversary over the June 24th weekend, the 2023 Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs New York, featured a great program presenting a wide range of music. Over 20 featured artist played over two days across two stages with headliner Cindy Blackman Santana taking the Amphitheater stage ...

Bokante: History

by Chris May
June 25, 2023

Snarky Puppy leader Michael League does not like the band being called a jazz ensemble. He describes it as a “a pop band that improvises a lot, without vocals." But anyone listening to jazz through the aural equivalent of a wide-angle lens would likely keep Snarky Puppy in the picture. League's spin-off group ...

Sacred & Profane

by Michael Ambrosino
June 10, 2023

No sacred cows here. And the only profanity you'll hear is the jazz police complaining about so much music breaking their archaic rules. On this episode of Currents we feature Joe Chambers, Eric Reed, Bobby Sanabria, Matt Ulery, Lauren Henderson, Kendrick Scott, Joe Farnsworth, Snarky Puppy, Leon Foster Thomas, Vince Mendoza, Alvaro Rojas and Sanah Kadoura. ...

George Coleman, David Larsen, Mary Lou Williams & Cecilia Smith

by Joe Dimino
May 28, 2023

We begin the 804th episode with a vibraphonist Cecilia Smith and music from the Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project. From there, we hear from Mary Lou Williams herself with a live recording from 1936. Throughout this episode, we hear new music from George Coleman, Ben Rosenblum, Walter Smith III and Snarky Puppy. In between, we go ...

Take Five with Christian Ventimiglia of Wide-Eyed Lounge Cats

by AAJ Staff
May 19, 2023

Meet Christian Ventimiglia is the keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for Wide-Eyed Lounge Cats. Once known as your friendly neighborhood jam band, the Cats are a celebrated jazz & jam band known for their unique arrangements, unorthodox compositions and dynamic live shows. The Cats' first two albums, Le Cirque (2020) and Cats in a Coal Mine ...

Bill Laurance & Michael League: Where You Wish You Were

by Cary Tenenbaum
April 22, 2023

As of this writing in Spring 2023, pianist Bill Laurance and bass and oud player Michael League have apparently been playing together in Snarky Puppy for almost 20 years. This may come as a surprise to some listeners who may still think of them as new kids on the block, so to speak. These two have ...

Bonzo Squad: Pachyderm

by Kyle Simpler
March 28, 2023

The Chicago-based quartet Bonzo Squad describes their music as “comfort in chaos." While this description might give an impression of free-form experimentation, it is not the case. The chaos aspect of their sound comes from a unique mixture of structure and improvisation, and for these guys, the comfort definitely outweighs the chaos. With Pachyderm, the group ...