It was a musically exciting but emotionally difficult week in the New York Blue Note Jazz Club as Ghost note Bandleader Robert “Sput” Searight And Nate Werth deals with the loss of their Cheeky puppy Bandmate Shaun Martinwho died on Saturday, two days before the band’s three-day performance began.
There was plenty of affection in this intimate New York venue, with fans filling the legendary club for early and late shows on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Special guests Karl Denson and drummer Blaque Dynamite (aka Mike Mitchell) also came by to play with the band, providing an atmosphere of much-needed community spirit. Still, it was obvious that the death of their musical brother weighed heavily on the band, especially Sput, who began his career alongside Martin and rose to fame as a member of Snarky Puppy with the late keyboardist and Nate Werth.
Sput and Martin both grew up listening to gospel music in Dallas churches and attended Booker T. Washington High School for Performing Arts (Blaque Dynamite also graduated from the same school years later.) Both established themselves as top players in Dallas’ vibrant music scene, contributing to the city’s eclectic musical identity with their unique blend of funk, hip-hop, jazz and gospel. According to the bandleader/bassist, they went on to take on similar roles in Snarky Puppy. MichaelLeague.
“The band was a college band that sounded like a college band for years,” he reflected in a 2022 interview with L4LM“I think once people have Sput and Bobby Sparks And Bernhard Wright and Shaun Martin, when they started playing with the band, they changed everything. They pushed us in this whole new direction. And it was incredible because it was like we were making headlines. Suddenly the people who influenced our music were in our band. And that’s a really special moment in Snarky Puppy’s history, I think. The music got a lot funkier, it got a lot tighter, it got a lot more emotional too. It got a lot simpler, less cerebral.”
Sput admitted on stage on Wednesday that he had not yet had time to mourn Martin, who he described as one of his best friends. He continued by paying tribute to some of the many other musicians who have recently passed away, including Aaron Spears, James CaseyBernard Wright, Nick Daniels III, Quennal GaskinAnd Casey Benjamin.
“They may be gone, but they are not forgotten. They will always live on through us,” said Sput, laying his head on his drum and beginning to cry.
While the three-day tour was emotionally difficult, it was a fitting tribute to Martin, his passion for music and his enduring musical legacy that will live on in the countless lives he touched.
Click below to view fan-shot video highlights and a photo gallery of Ghost-Note at Blue Note Jazz Club, courtesy of the photographer. Ken SpielmanA full list of the band’s upcoming tour dates and festival appearances can be found here.
Ghost Note – Blue Note Jazz Club – New York, NY – 08/05/24 (Highlights)
(Video: CheriD)
Ghost note | Blue Note Jazz Club | New York, NY | 08/06/24 | Photos: Ken Spielman
