Is it
funk, is it fusion, is it electronica, is it avant-garde, is it Latin, is it
mellow, is it trad, is it experimental? What is it?
It’s
jazz.
Moreover,
it’s Snarky Puppy’s jazz and it is “the shape of jazz to come”, to quote
Ornette Coleman.
Sometimes
Killer
Opening Songs makes his musical discoveries on his doorstep, as in when he picks
up long-awaited CDs shoved through his letterbox, ordered from evil,
tax-avoiding Amazon. But occasionally, K.O.S. travels far to dig out new
melodies. Far as in going all the way to Glynde Place, near Brighton, in southeastern England, to the Jazz
FM-sponsored Love Supreme festival.
Forget
the hellish journey back home (more than three and a half hours on the road
late at night, including a diversion that added an extra hour to the already
long drive), the memories of Snarky Puppy’s performance more than made up for
any inconvenience suffered. This US band that sprang into the jazz scene in
2004, has been making a lot of noise in the right way ever since, and they have
the rich, eclectic and mind-blowing musical output to back up the buzz they have generated.
The
driving force behind Snarky Puppy is bassist and composer Michael League, yet,
it would be wrong to leave out the other band members. Drummer Robert “Sput”
Searight, who has collaborated with the likes of Snoop Dogg and London-based Bill
Laurance, who has just released a well-received debut album, Flint, are just some of the stars to be found in this combo.
Killer
Opening Song Thing of Gold appears on Snarky Puppy’s 2012
record groundUP, a combined CD and
DVD offer. The track showcases everything that makes this
band the future of jazz to come. Beautiful piano and saxo join forces together
at the beginning of the song to weave a spellbinding tapestry of rhythm patterns.
Strings kick in shortly after and add gravitas to what is already a mesmerising
piece of music. The coup de grâce is
provided by Texas-born keyboardist Shaun Martin who leads the whole ensemble to a hymn-like
finale.
Music
like this is a joy to listen to. Watching the members of Snarky Puppy perform
live at Love Supreme was equally a pleasure to see. And at the centre of it all
lies the key: the Killer Opening Song.
© 2014
Next Post: “Sunday
Mornings: Coffee, Reflections and Music”, to be published on Sunday 13th
July at 10am (GMT)
They are really good, I think they through a little of everything in there
ReplyDeletedude...that is smooth...i like it much...its a good blend...lets leave it at that...smiles.
ReplyDeletehave you heard the new Jack White III, that and the new Ed Sheeran are on my playlist right now...
The music seemed a bit too busy for my taste, put together, I thought, like a playwright trying to ensure everyone on stage had at least a line or two to recite. Consequently, there were portions I liked and portions I did not care for ....
ReplyDeleteThat said, I did enjoy your review, CiL, and I am glad you had the opportunity to see/hear the group perform in person.
And it is such a wonderful band name too...
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a traditional jazz fan, the older sort... but I gave this a whirl and really quite enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMe gustan mucho, tienen un buen ritmo y a la vez tranquilo.
ReplyDeleteGracias por compartir.
Love that name 'Snarky Puppy'!
ReplyDeleteI can´hear anything. Must be something wrong with my speakers. :(
ReplyDeleteEven if you're not a big fan of jazz (and the jazz they play here in CT is more brass oriented than anything else) buy the c.d. just for the band name.
ReplyDeleteThat is the coolest band name ever.
Father Nature's Corner
Me encanto esta banda de Jazz, gracias por compartir.
ReplyDeleteNeat.
ReplyDeleteMy roommate in college was a bass player and he would be applauding the pros that you gave to Michael League. He always argued that the bassists were often over-looked though they drove the tunes.
Enjoy your weekend!
'Snarky Puppy' is such a unique name! :)
ReplyDeleteWow...this is amazing...I've never heard anything quite like this before...it is composed of so many diverse styles - yet it works really well.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed your review too...it must have been amazing to be there in person. Wish I could have been too.
Have a fabulous weekend :)
Thanks for opening my ears to this! The band's name is not what I would ordinarily be drawn to but the sound is. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteGreat to have something to make the road glow by.
ReplyDeletek.
They were great live. A really tight outfit. Great improvisers, too. One of the percussionists is Argentinian. I guess he'll be celebrating going to the final against the Teutons on Sunday.
ReplyDelete"Flint" is already in my to-buy list. Bill Laurance is one of the most originala nd creative pianists ever.
Have a great weekend.
Greetings from London.
Truly impressive.
ReplyDeleteI love live concerts.
ReplyDeleteSnark Puppy is awesome.
Very Weather Report, I thought. (I'm not complaining - I like Weather Report!)
ReplyDeleteVery lively and fun. I've never seen this side of jazz!
ReplyDeleteThey sound good; I can see why you love them. My hubbie is a jazz guitar player so I get to hear a lot of different types of jazz & have come to really love it. It's a deep well.
ReplyDelete