Michael League (born April 24, 1984) is an American bassist, composer, and producer best known as the founder and driving force behind the jazz-fusion collective Snarky Puppy. He started the band in 2004 at the University of North Texas and built it into one of the most respected names in instrumental music, earning five Grammy Awards along the way. Beyond Snarky Puppy, League runs his own label GroundUP Music and collaborates widely across jazz, soul, funk, and world music.
Snarky Puppy announced an American fall tour in support of the album Somni, starting on September 29, 2026 in Seattle and ending on October 22 in New Orleans.
Michael League served as Resident Artistic Director at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco during the week of January 28 to February 1, 2026.
Snarky Puppy released the album Somni on November 21, 2025 via GroundUP Music - a live collaboration with the Metropole Orkest and conductor Jules Buckley, recorded in Utrecht.
Michael League and Nik Huber presented a signature bass: a semi-hollow instrument made of swamp ash with a custom Curtis Novak pickup.
Snarky Puppy performed in August 2026 at De Oosterpoort in Groningen as part of the international Somni tour.
