It’s hard to pinpoint a modern act as talented and prolific as the fusion collective Snarky Puppy. This year, the band earned their 2nd Grammy (for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album) and released their eleventh studio effort, “Culcha Vulcha.”
Armed with their usual arsenal of heavyweight players and cerebral compositions, the ensemble was eager to please a polite sold-out crowd on Tuesday night at the Ogden Theatre.
The music of Snarky Puppy is not something your body reacts to so much as your mind. Much time is spent deciphering the patterns of bassist and bandleader Michael League, whose playing consistently jumps between time signatures and places minimalist accents in all the odd places. By the time you think you have it figured out, they are on to the next song.
Tuesday nightap set was predominantly new instrumental material off of their latest “Culcha Vulcha,” including the Afro-Cuban rhythms of “Semente,” a glitchy “Beep Box” and an encore of the album opener “Tarova” with guest drummer Adam Deitch (who redeemed himself with some monster fills after missing his first cue to join the band on stage earlier in the set). The real highlight of the night was the horn-heavy “Shofukan” that dissolved into a cappella vocal harmonies that echoed through the theater.
Few bands have a lineup as unpredictable, but predictably great, as Snarky Puppy. The group rotates through over thirty musicians, all on call and considered part of “The Fam.” On this occasion, League brought with him a nine-piece band that included standouts Bill Lawrence on keys, Chris Bullock on tenor sax and Larnell Lewis on drums.
