Jan 29-Feb 1 | Resident Artistic Director Michael League
Jan 30, 2026
Miner Auditorium
The second night of Michael League’s week as Resident Artistic Director is an intimate evening of duos by League and his longtime Snarky Puppy collaborator, keyboardist Bill Laurance. With Laurance on acoustic piano and League handling all manner of stringed instruments including fretless electric bass, the Middle Eastern oud, the Malian ngoni, they perform material from their two duo albums for the ACT Music label, 2023’s Where You Wish You Were and 2024’s Keeping Company, along with new music and a few surprises.
Easily one of the most visible, prolific, and versatile bandleaders and collaborators in modern music, the 5-time GRAMMY-winning Snarky Puppy mastermind and GroundUP Records founder Michael League showcases his widely varied musical endeavors as SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director.
A Southern California native, League attended the renowned University of North Texas jazz program, where he met the core of the band that would become Snarky Puppy — a band that has built a fervent global following for their electric blend of jazz, pop, R&B, and soul.
Now based in Catalonia, Spain, he is the creator and bandleader of both Snarky Puppy and the world music group Bokanté, founder of the record label and music curation source GroundUP Music, and co-founder/artistic director of the GroundUP Music Festival.
The second night of Michael League’s week as Resident Artistic Director is an intimate evening of acoustic duos by League and his longtime Snarky Puppy collaborator, keyboardist Bill Laurance, performing material from their two duo albums.
Michael League has created a band that is more than just artists getting together; it's almost like a movement or a lifestyle
Jazz Weekly
Michael League has created a band that is more than just artists getting together; it's almost like a movement or a lifestyle
Jazz Weekly
Personnel
Michael League oud, fretless bass, ngoni, vocals
Bill Laurance piano, vocals
A cracking album that resides on a different sonic continent than Laurance’s and League’s regular output.
London Jazz News
Personnel
Michael League oud, fretless bass, ngoni, vocals
Bill Laurance piano, vocals
A cracking album that resides on a different sonic continent than Laurance’s and League’s regular output.
London Jazz News
Watch & Listen
Michael League & Bill Laurance
Sant Esteve
Michael League & Bill Laurance
Africa
Michael League & Bill Laurance
Sant Esteve
Michael League & Bill Laurance
Africa