Snarky Puppy Release Single “Belmont” off Upcoming Album “Empire Central”

Snarky Puppy has released their new instrumental track “Belmont” and has announced the release of an album titled Empire Central, paying homage to NYC, which made the band who they are today.

snarky puppy

The group are four-time Grammy award winners and are one of the most respected names in the instrumental music industry. Formed in 2004, the group is led by bassist Michael League. The group combines a variety of jazz idioms, rock, world music, and funk.

Snarky Puppy has always been a band that prioritizes the sound of the music. On this record there was some collaboration in the writing process but when a song goes to the band and the players start making suggestions or changing things our collective feeling really comes through. The songs ended up being a lot more direct and funkier than those on our previous records. I think it reflects the many moods of the city’s scene.

Michael League

Their new single “Belmont” is a funky ballad, featuring many different people and instruments, like a tenor sax, flugelhorn, drums, distorted violins, and percussion. The track is over six minutes long but goes by so quickly. It was arranged beautifully, with rises and falls, and one can’t help but sway to the music. The sound engineers were also amazing here, as each instrument is isolated and you are able to hear each one clearly.

The album Empire Central references NYC, and is a 16-track record recorded live in front of a studio audience at the Deep Ellum Art Company in Dallas, TX over eight nights. On the record, there are over 20 artists, including three guitarists, four keyboardists, two brass, two reeds, a violinist, multiple percussionists and drummers, and League on bass.

Snarky Puppy is also going on tour to support the album, with shows in Buffalo at the Town Ballroom on April 6, NYC at the Beacon Theatre on April 13, and Ithaca at the Cornell University Concert Series on April 16. Tickets for those shows are on sale here. The new record comes out Sept. 30 and will be available on all streaming platforms.

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