The things that make jazz so baffling to some are probably what makes it so alluring to others. Virtuosity, history, variety; jazz has all three in spades. But maybe it’s not surprising that jazz is no longer the mainstream musical force that it once was.
For better or worse, a large portion of the modern audience want digestible, personality-driven pop hits, not dorian modes and big bands. Irrespective, of talent, in the battle of sick drops vs. sick trombone solos, it’s unsurprising that the former usually comes out on top. How is it, then, that Brooklyn-based jazz collective, Snarky Puppy have slid their way into the minds and hearts of the mainstream audience?
Snarky Puppy’s members are musicians of undisputed skill. Led by bassist and songwriter, Michael League, the outfit consists of over twenty other rotating musicians. Most have degrees in jazz. Many tour with other musicians, including Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg. Some are signed as independent artists. At a time when an artist’s celebrity status seems to make headlines just as much as their actual music, it’s slightly atypical that this band’s line-up changes on a whim.
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But then there is nothing typical about this band. Snarky Puppy’s music is a robust mix of jazz, funk, gospel, R&B, rock, and anything and everything in between. This stylistic eclecticism could be put down to Michael League, who himself has collaborated with influential artists across a range of genres. But in a band that seems to cherish collaboration, it’s just as likely that each individual member’s talents are responsible for the band’s unique sound.
In fact, you could probably make a case that Snarky Puppy are the most talented band in the world simply because the group is the sum of its parts. In keeping with jazz tradition, Snarky Puppy reserve time for solos in most of their songs. It’s here that the sheer virtuosity of the band’s members is on show the most.
Watch: Snarky Puppy’s Cory Henry craziest ‘Lingus’ solo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF1fD9B4o08
I know right. Bloody excellent.
I’d argue though, that being even this good at an instrument, while certainly remarkable, is hardly unique. After all, there have been thousands of jazz musicians throughout history who have failed to make the mainstream impact that Snarky Puppy have, despite their undeniable talents. I believe that their unique ability to make jazz accessible to a wider audience is what marks Snarky Puppy as the most talented band on the planet, just as much as their actual musical virtuosity.
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I remember when I first heard the name “Snarky Puppy”. I’d just arrived at an early morning high school big band rehearsal. Like most high schoolers, jazz wasn’t really at the top of my list of musical interests. Indie Rock? Sure. Pop? Yep. The stuff on Triple J? Definitely.
But for me, as with many, jazz was academic. It was something I did in the classroom, not really something that piqued my interest enough to listen outside of school. When I arrived at this rehearsal, the jazz teacher was playing a YouTube clip of “Shofukan”, the opener to Snarky Puppy’s emphatic record, We Like It Here.
Snarky Puppy – What About Me? (We Like It Here)
I don’t remember doing much playing at that rehearsal. I think we just listened to track after track. It was educational, riveting and accessible to everyone in the room. It wasn’t snobby. It wasn’t dusty. It was full-blown jazz for a new generation. And, perhaps most importantly, it introduced me, and everyone else, to a world of other music. Not just jazz, but R&B, Motown, world music and all the other influences on which Snarky Puppy draw.
Snarky Puppy’s ability to remain musically proficient enough for the culture vultures, and electric enough for everyone else is what makes their music so special. We Like It Here, probably their strongest record to date, strikes this balance immaculately. “What About Me?” features more time signature changes and jazz chords than you can poke a stick at, but also powerful guitar work to impress even the most hardened rock fan.
Snarky Puppy – Kite (We Like It Here)
“The Kite” features a bass clarinet, but somehow doesn’t feel jarring next to the Yoshimi-esque wet synth sounds of “Sleeper”. Snarky Puppy’s music is bold. It’s daring. And it manages to open us up to every sort of genre, like some kind of sonic antipasto platter. Maybe it’s this ability to satiate all kinds of musical hungers that will ensure Snarky Puppy’s place in history.
Snarky Puppy – Outlier (We Like It Here)
Snarky Puppy Bluesfest 2019 Sideshows
Sunday, 21st April 2019
Enmore Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
Tickets: Ticketek
Wednesday, 24th April 2019
HQ, Adelaide
Tickets: OzTix
Friday, 26th April 2019
The Forum, Melbourne
Tickets: Ticketmaster
