Progger

For fans of: Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, Parliament-Funkadelic, Snarky Puppy

Progger lays beautiful, sophisticated melody and harmony over visceral grooves and beats from funk, soul, world, and electronic dance music. Combining the experience of some of the most in-demand touring and session musicians from the vibrant Texas music scene, Progger has quickly built a reputation for being one of the most skilled, tight, and captivating live bands in the country, and has garnered praise from producers and musicians throughout the nation. Their debut album, Beatmaker, was released in February 2013.
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"[Progger] is a group of some of the best musicians in Austin that, despite each member's individual talents, somehow manages to sound like a real band. When you see them live, you can truly feel that you're seeing serious musicians realizing one concept and creating one sound together," says songwriter and producer Matt Ragland. Destinee Ware, owner of the prominent Austin venue One2One, says "it's one of those few bands that people stop talking, stop drinking, stop doing anything else they were doing and just start listening to. They command attention. The musicians on stage are of the highest quality and it shows. The song arrangements are smart and different with unexpected changes at every turn." Simply stated by Grammy-winning producer and band leader Michael League, "Progger rocks."
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Members of Progger have contributed to numerous recordings, tours, and performances by some of music's most brilliant luminaries. These include artists like Snarky Puppy, Peter Rowan, Okkervil River, Bill Laurance, Col. Bruce Hampton, Myron Butler, Kirk Covington, Bernard Wright, and many more. Saxophonist, keyboardist, and producer Brian Donohoe began performing regularly with guitarists Matt Muehling and Carter Arrington soon after moving to Austin from Dallas in 2009, and within two years the trio had found their ideal rhythm section in the form of bassist Nick Clark and drummer Daniel Watson. Paul Deemer soon started sitting in on trombone, and has regularly contributed his considerable talents since then. While spending some time immersed in the vibrant New York music scene, Progger has also had considerable help from drummer Andy Martinek, keyboardist Noah Kellman, and guitarist Dan Muniz, as well as Snarky Puppy members Justin Stanton, Bob Lanzetti, and Chris McQueen.
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With their shared love of soul, jazz, and rock music, the musicians quickly found a common desire to create captivating, innovative, fresh music built on the foundations of their heroes: Herbie Hancock, George Clinton, Weather Report, Stevie Wonder, and, notably, Dallas funk and gospel legend Bobby Sparks, among many others. As bandmates and friends, the members of Progger are constantly seeking out new inspiration from nature, art, and the club to keep developing their unique music with no end in sight.