Snarky Puppy - Kite (We Like It Here)

Snarky Puppy - Kite
From the live DVD "We Like It Here"

Written, arranged, and produced by Michael League.

Personnel:
Michael League - bass
Shaun Martin - keyboards
Bill Laurance - acoustic piano (solo)
Cory Henry - keyboards
Justin Stanton - Fender Rhodes
Mark Lettieri - guitar
Bob Lanzetti - guitar
Chris McQueen - guitar
Nate Werth - percussion
Larnell Lewis - drums
Mike Maher - flugelhorn
Chris Bullock - sax & bass clarinet
Bob Reynolds - sax
Jay Jennings - flugelhorn (solo)
Yannick Hiwat - violin
Tessel Hersbach - violin
Mara Tieles - viola
Susanne Rosmolen - cello

Engineered by Eric Hartman, Roy Van Rosendaal, Mike Harrison, & Colin Benders.
Filmed by Andy LaViolette, Brad Holt, Emily Schwarting, Joseph Lafond, and Christi LaViolette.
Mixed by Eric Hartman in Dallas, Texas.
Mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk New York, NY.

[MrKail]

While everybody appreciates the insane skills of the musicians here, I just want to point out how outstandingly clear and precise the mixing is. sounds better than most albums

[insaneintherainmusic]

This tune is just as good as Lingus, Shofukan, or What About Me, definitely deserves some more love. Jennings' trumpet solo mmmm

[aarondoerr]

Snarky Puppy=The best elements of jazz, funk, pop, film score and rock all cooked up in a cauldron of genius musicianship.

[r_knapp]

The cellist from these sessions has one of the most expressive faces I’ve ever seen.

[Ash_Hudson]

Larnell Lewis is so good that I don't think I could watch a future recording of this band without him there.

[tdoom]

Most underrated Snarky song, and a video every reaction channel oversees...

[patrick_gingras]

Let's all take a moment to appreciate that epic flugelhorn solo

[Macaholic]

Been listening to these guys for about three years and think they're the best band around with fantastic writing, and yet it just struck me a couple of days ago that, to me, Snarky Puppy is the evolution of the "big band". Complex, orchestrated arrangements for a large instrumental ensemble, blending jazz, funk, gospel and worldbeat; but the instrumentation isn't 5 saxes, 4 bones, 4 trumpets and a rhythm section.

It's interesting to me because I've felt the big band entity has died. When I was a teenager in the late 70's there were still some of the legendary big bands touring: Kenton, Maynard, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman -- but that's about it. These bands were still doing the road on buses almost year-round. But, by the late 80's it was over; the Final Curtain on an ensemble style that started in the 30's. Sure, you got Maria Schneider, John Labarbera and several other noted big band composers and leaders -- and some fantastic resident big bands in Europe like WDR (God love Europe; they still support the arts), but they can't tour like the old days, stay local in their respective jazz cities or do residence stints at colleges and universities.

So, Snarky has those arranging and number of bodies akin to a big band by definition. Sometimes they sound like the smaller instrumented Brecker Brothers' stuff (I'll lay money Michael League listened to a lot of them -- as he should have), but his arranging goes far beyond the "Play intro, play head, solo, play head, play ending" structure typical of The Breckers and most small group jazz. Very good shit and I'm a big big fan!

[robinhamilton]

This is the first time I have ever heard these musicians. I've been listening for hours. Their creations are breathtaking, mesmerizing, astonishing and soul stirring. I can see the sounds in my head.
My God, I am so thankful I didn't die before hearing this.

[issajack]

The guy in the shirt @ 0:56 is like, "what type of sorcery did that drummer just do"... drummers huh... #Kalvin  #PraiseOrchestra

[bthepreposition]

Ughhhh that piano solo at the end hit me so hard! Wow... Just absolutely beautiful. 110% Jazz right there haha

[OTDELTA_]

I Can't find a single song that isn't amazing

[samuelele]

That piano solo though... Priceless masterpiece.

[MusicPancho]

2:40 This guys is absolutely incredible. Underrated af.

[maormeltzer]

These guys are not musicians.
They're magicians.
If I start writing everything I love in this piece it will be such a long comment...
I'd just say that being able to play such a tight unison while also making it so soft, expressive and dynamic is incredible.

[hosteggaming]

that jazzy piano fill in is absolute legend

[giacomocasartelli]

I like how tasteful Bill's solo is, even if not overly complex or virtuosic it really succedes in communicating something through music

[hygri]

God damn, this never gets old... Jay going off on one, Larnell like a cat on the kit, Corey loving up Bill's solo... yeah baby.

[forcerinen]

What an amazing piano solo by Bill Laurance!

[briankay]

Whoever wrote this music is a genius, I tried playing along but the modulation made me question my music skills, 🔥