Empire Central
Empire Central is the fifteenth album and seventh live album[1] by American band Snarky Puppy. Released on September 30, 2022, on GroundUP Music,[2] it won Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 65th Grammy Awards.[3]
Background and recording[edit]
Empire Central was recorded live in front of a studio audience over the course of eight days at Deep Ellum Art Company, a converted venue space in Dallas, Texas.[4][1] The album is an homage to Dallas's rich history of black music. Despite Snarky Puppy originating at University of North Texas in Denton, 30 miles away from Dallas, bandleader Michael League cited Dallas's gospel and R&B scene as what solidified the band's distinct sound.[5][6] League named Dallas-based musicians Erykah Badu, RC Williams, Roy Hargrove (who partially inspired the track name "Cliroy"), Kirk Franklin, and Jason Moran as influences for the album.[7][8]
Tracks on the album that allude to Dallas and Texas include "RL's", referring to South Dallas nightclub R.L.'s Blues Palace #2,[6] "Mean Green", named after the North Texas mascot, "Belmont", named for the street in Dallas where League lived, "Fuel City", named for a Texas gas station chain,[9] and "Trinity", named for Texas's Trinity River.[7]
The album features the last recorded performance of funk keyboardist Bernard Wright, who died in a car accident less than two months after the recording sessions. Appearing on the track "Take It!", Wright was described by League as Snarky Puppy's musical "godfather," having mentored many of the band's members and joining the band himself from 2007 to 2010.[6][9][10]
Before the album's release in 2022, Snarky Puppy previewed several tracks while on tour with Steely Dan.[8][11] League credits Steely Dan as one of Snarky Puppy's largest influences, describing touring with them as "a dream."[8]
Composition[edit]
Empire Central draws influence from a variety of genres, including jazz, funk, blues, R&B, gospel, and hard rock.[2][4][7] Contrary to the band's previous albums, on which League provided most of the writing, Empire Central features original compositions by 12 different band members.[7][10]
Adapted from Snarky Puppy on YouTube.