Snarky Puppy, the Brooklyn-based jazz fusion outfit from the highly acclaimed North Texas University program, brought their unique sound to the House of Blues.

The 10-person ensemble, drawn from a “family” of over 30 group members, combines jazz, Latin, and rock (especially 1970s funk) to produce tight arrangements with room for improvisation.

The band played for almost two hours to a full house. Audience members danced, grooved, and jammed to lengthy songs.

Supporting act pedal and lap steel guitarist Roosevelt Collier fronted a Miami-based band with heavy tinges of blues and gospel. Their bluesified version of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” had the audience clapping and singing along, and special guest keyboardist Bobby Sparks from Snarky Puppy used his king-sized whammy bar to make his electric piano sing.

Photos & review by: Sylvia Borgo

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