Snarky Puppy rolled out the new single “Bet” via a live-in-studio video. The cut is one of 16 tracks featured on the jazz-fusion act’s upcoming studio album, Empire Central, which is due out through the band’s GroundUP Music imprint on September 30.
JamBase partners Osiris Media teamed up with Snarky Puppy for a new podcast documenting the creation of Empire Central. The three-part limited series, Transmissions From Deep Ellum, begins with the first episode premiering on August 2. Click here to pre-save and for more information. Watch a trailer for the podcast below:
The ensemble founded by bassist Michael League recorded Empire Central live in front of an audience at Dallas’ Deep Ellum Art Company during an eight-night run featuring 16 shows held in March 2022. The 16 tunes were inspired by and pay tribute to Dallas, the city where the group was formed while its members were enrolled at the University of North Texas’ famed jazz program.
Empire Central marks the last recorded performance from acclaimed funk musician and the band’s “musical Godfather” Bernard Wright. Bernard sadly died at age 58 soon after participating in the Empire Central sessions.
Snarky Puppy, who will embark on an extensive North American tour in March and April 2023, previously released Empire Central lead single “Trinity.” As for the new single, Michael Leage explained that, “dedicated to Dallas icon RC Williams (musical director for Erykah Badu and bandleader of RC & Tha Gritz), ‘Bet’ moves through a mixture of styles: church, soul and even Brazilian Funk.” League wrote the track and arranged “Bet” with the band. A total of 19 musicians contributed to its recording.
Watch Snarky Puppy’s live-in-studio “Bet” video below:
