Music rooted in the jazz tradition, but freely crossing stylistic boundaries, combining funk groove and rhythmic blues directness in a contemporary sound. It is with such a musical signature that five-time Grammy award winners Snarky Puppy return to the Palladium concert hall on September 7 after a two-year hiatus. In today's jazz fusion environment, the group is considered one of the most important reference points of the genre, and its performances gather a large number of listeners all over the world - this was also confirmed by the previous visit to Riga, the concert tickets were sold out in a few days.
Tickets on sale from February 20 at 10.00 on the "Bilešu Serviss" network. Members of the Positivus Festival and the FBI Concert Club will be able to purchase tickets in advance from February 19 at 10.00
The group's beginnings can be traced back to 2004, when bassist and composer Michael League formed it as a fellowship of the University of North Texas Jazz Studies Program. The quiet beginning was followed by a decisive turn - an encounter with the Dallas gospel and R&B music scene, where Snarky Puppy's sound took on new colors, becoming more groovy, direct and emotionally saturated. This period also saw the formation of the core of the band - Robert "Sput" Searight (percussion), Bobby Sparks II (keyboards) and the now deceased Shaun Martin (keyboards).
Snarky Puppy's musical thinking is rooted in a dialogue between tradition and the present. The creative language of the group consists of funk, rhythmic blues, jazz and fusion, gospel emotionality, soul music depth and rock music energy, but these ingredients never become an end in themselves. “Snarky Puppy has always been a band that puts the music first,” emphasizes Michael. It's not a jazz band in the classic sense, it's not a fusion group, and it's definitely not a jam band. As Nate Chinen of The New York Times aptly put it: “see them for what they are, not what they are not.”
Their latest album "Somni", which also gave the name to the upcoming tour, was made in collaboration with Metropole Orkest - a collective based in the Netherlands, which has gained wider recognition by combining jazz, academic and popular music. Although the album is entirely instrumental, it stands out for its highly emotional language. Each piece explores some aspect of the dream state – shifting identities, surreal logic, the fragile illusion of intimacy and the peculiar emotional residue that remains after waking.
The Snarky Puppy concert in Riga will be a real event for all jazz music lovers - both those who are just starting their acquaintance with jazz music and experienced listeners. It will be an opportunity to hear in person one of the most important modern jazz collectives, whose music is based on high professional skill and precise interplay. This is music that combines complex form with direct sound and appeals to the listener without delusion.