I remember walking down Boylston last year and seeing a snaking line outside of Berklee College of Music’s Café 939. The first thought that came to mind was, “who the heck is this line for?” The answer to that question was none other than Snarky Puppy, the three-time Dallas Observer Music Award winning instrumental jazz group. And guess what? They’re back this fall with not one, but TWO shows at Café 939!
On Tuesday, October 2nd and Wednesday, October 3rd, Snarky Puppy will play The Red Room @ Café 939. The internationally respected group brings a blend of deep knowledge and respect for musical tradition, with both sonic and conceptual innovation, to the college’s on-campus venue for two nights.
Snarky Puppy refers to itself as somewhere between a garage band and a collective, maintaining over 25 players in regular rotation. The group was conceived at the University of North Texas where its members came together offering a fusion of jazz, rock, gospel and R&B and is held together by award-winning bassist/guitarist/composer/arranger Michael League. Members of the group have previously worked with the likes of Erykah Badu, Marcus Miller, P. Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Tower of Power, Yo-Yo Ma, among many more.
On October 2nd, performing with Snarky Puppy is Alison Wedding, an eclectic jazz singer/songwriter from New York and an Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music. Influenced heavily by vocalists Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan as well as horn players Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Michael Brecker, Wedding began her professional singing career performing in the Dallas area. Winning many awards for her talent and craft, including the 2004 Bell Award for the Best Vocal Jazz Album in Australia and the Gibson-May award at the London International Vocal Jazz Competition,Wedding has performed and collaborated with the likes of Gerry Mulligan, Kevyn Lettau, Andy Summers, Sam Keevers, Jamie Oehlers, Colin Hopkins, Peter Knight, Bob Sedergreen, Joe Chindamo, Kate Ceberano, Richard Clapton, and more. Her current band lineup includes Snarky Puppy leader Michael League among others.
On October 3rd, performing with Snarky Puppy is Maz, also known as prolific singer/songwriter Mike Maher, who happens to be the trumpeter in Snarky Puppy. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Maher was heavily influenced by the blues music of the region, as well as by Motown hits and classic rock that his father introduced him to. He began singing and composing music at the age of twelve and shortly after began performing around Milwaukee. Maher is now based out of Brooklyn, NY and founded Maz in 2009 as a way to showcase his original compositions.
There is no doubt in my mind that both of these shows will be incredible, filled with raw funk and sensitive dynamics, relentless pocket and lyrical melodicism, lush harmony and soulful simplicity, and most importantly, a delicate mixture of composition and improvisation.
