The five-time GRAMMY-winning juggernaut Snarky Puppy returns to Oakland’s Paramount Theatre for a highly anticipated performance. “An exultant throwdown of smart danceability” (Village Voice), Snarky Puppy isn’t exactly a jazz band. It’s not a fusion band or a jam band. It’s probably best to take Nate Chinen of The New York Times’ advice, as stated in an online discussion about the group, to “take them for what they are, rather than judge them for what they’re not.”
The global collective which features a revolving cast of up to a dozen musicians makes what it likes to call “music for your brain and booty.” Led by bassist and composer Michael League, the band features a rotating lineup of world class instrumentalists whose résumés boast work with stars like Erykah Badu, Marcus Miller, Justin Timberlake, Roy Hargrove, Snoop Dogg and John Mayer.
Their 2022 recording, Empire Central, received a well-earned GRAMMY win for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 66th awards ceremony — their fifth win in as many nominations — and was inspired by the band’s formative home of Dallas, blending their whirlwind jazz-ified funk with elements of Southern rock, electric blues, classic soul, slinky R&B, and modern gospel.
The group’s most recent album, 2025’s Somni, created in collaboration with the acclaimed Metropole Orkest, expands the band’s boundary‑blurring sound with lush orchestral textures and deep grooves. Hailed as “a sweeping, cinematic evolution of the band’s groove-driven aesthetic” (DownBeat), the project pairs League’s expansive compositions with the orchestra’s rich sonic palette.
