The Snarkiness of Puppies

When any musician goes to see a band that is considered  "amazing!" they will have one of two reactions. "Man I got to practice." or "I could do that." I fully expected to be blown out of the water with Snarky Puppy when I caught them this past week. I was surprised when my reaction was more "I could do that."

Not to say they weren't good. They were great. Layered lengthy compositions executed flawlessly with well thought out solos on top of them. The group cohesion was out of this world and they seemed to like each other too.

What they were playing was very doable. Jam bands are predictable. Complex lines become second nature after multiple repetitions. What makes them popular is also their. They have their style and stick with it.

Form of a Snarky Puppy track:
Groovy thing, Syncopated rhythmic dissonant section, then once you get uncomfortable groovy thing, let's quiet down and get spacy, Now let's solo over the rhythmic dissonant part, ok groovy but with an ensemble line, and then a big finish.

Repetition is not bad, but each music creates a context in which to listen to it. In the world of Snarky Puppy everything is as clear as day. Their is no mystery to their pieces and that is where I struggle being interested.

It is the new smooth jazz.

Folk music

"all music is folk music, I've never heard a horse sing."-Louis Armstrong.

Sheldon and I played at a Folk Festival today put on by my good friend Peter Searby. I think we are too quick to jump into our selective musical boxes and avoid interactions with different genres and styles. Is the Robert Monroe Trio folk? No ... and yes. Any music worth listening to both defines and defies the genre that it finds itself in. Instead of thinking in genres and styles when listening and "judging music" approach it from patterns and communication. What is the artist saying? Do I agree or disagree? Was my mind stimulated by the message sent across? Ask these questions the next time someone invites you to check out a new artist or cd.