Ghost-Note — Expansive funk and unstoppable rhythm
Robert “Sput” Searight drums · Nate Werth percussion · Dominique Xavier Taplin keyboards · Justin McKinney bass · Peter Knudsen guitar · Mackenzie Green vocals · Jonathan Mones saxophone · Daniel Wytanis trombone
Ghost-Note is a sonic explosion led by the Snarky Puppy percussion duo Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth, joined by a lineup of top-tier musicians who have worked with Prince, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Marcus Miller, Toto, and Justin Timberlake. Their sound is built on the foundations of James Brown–style funk and Sly & The Family Stone, incorporating afrobeat, hip-hop, psychedelia, and global folk traditions into a fresh, contemporary sound.
Since their formation in 2015, the band has showcased an unmistakable rhythmic approach. Their albums Fortified (2015) and Swagism (2018) combine irresistible grooves with high-level collaborations (Kamasi Washington, Karl Denson, Bobby Sparks, Nigel Hall, among others), demonstrating their ability to fuse styles and textures without losing energy or coherence. As the band members themselves point out: “Most of the guys in Ghost-Note are also composers and play multiple instruments, so it’s a band of very talented people who enjoy creating and having fun with music. When we go into the studio to record, all of that comes through in the final result.”
Live, Ghost-Note unleashes its full magic: energetic, straight-ahead shows focused on danceable grooves and contagious energy, leaving any pretension behind and connecting immediately with the audience. Their music feels immediate and fun, inviting listeners both to dance and to surrender to the group’s collective creativity.
The band has taken its sound around the world, performing across the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan, and appearing at high-profile festivals, cementing a unique style where improvisation and fun go hand in hand with musical excellence.
Why shouldn’t you miss it?
Because Ghost-Note turns every concert into an unstoppable rhythmic journey: funk, groove, and creativity in their purest form, with an intensity that can’t be replicated on a screen — it has to be experienced live.
Standing concert.
