After more than a decade of relentless touring and recording in near obscurity, the Texas-bred quasi-collective Snarky Puppy suddenly found itself esteemed as one of the major figures in the jazz world. But as the category names for all five of the band’s Grammy awards would indicate (Best R&B Performance in 2014 and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2023), Snarky Puppy isn’t exactly a jazz band. It’s not a fusion band, and it’s definitely not a jam band.

At its core, Snarky Puppy represents the convergence of both Black and white American music culture with various accents from around the world. Japan, Argentina, Canada and the United Kingdom all have representation in the group, with as many as 20 regularly rotating members. But more than the cultural diversity of the individual players, the defining characteristic of Snarky Puppy’s music is the joy of performing together in the perpetual push to grow creatively.

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