Red Snapper

Red Snapper is a British instrumental band from London, formed in 1993. The core line-up consists of Ali Friend on double bass, Richard Thair on drums, and David Ayers on guitar, with additional guest musicians and vocalists appearing on different recordings. The band is active from 1993 to the present and is associated with acid jazz, drum and bass, and nu jazz, while its wider sound also draws on trip-hop, hip-hop, breakbeat, jazz, funk, jungle, dub, and references to early psychedelic and progressive rock.

Style and early releases

The group is known for combining acoustic instruments with electronic textures, and for a live, organic sound that contrasts with the studio-focused electronic music often associated with its label home. Before signing to Warp Records, Red Snapper releases three EPs. Its debut album, Prince Blimey, appears in 1996.

Line-up changes and recordings

On Making Bones, Red Snapper works with jungle MC Det, jazz trumpeter Byron Wallen, and singer Alison David. By the time of Our Aim Is to Satisfy in 2000, Alison David is replaced by Karim Kendra. In early 2002, the band announces its dissolution, but a compilation, It’s All Good, also appears that year and includes the previously unreleased track “Ultraviolet”. A remixes release, Redone, follows the next year and includes versions remixed by the band members as well as other collaborators; the track “Odd Man Out” includes vocals.

Reformation and later work

Red Snapper reforms in 2007 after a period apart devoted to other projects. At that point, Ali Friend has been working with Beth Orton and in Clayhill, David Ayers has been writing music for television including work used in the BBC series The Tribe, and Richard Thair has been involved with Toob, Rennie Pilgrem and the TCR Allstars, and Bomb the Bass. The band returns to recording with saxophonist Tom Challenger and appears at Bloc Weekend in 2008.

The album Pale Blue Dot appears on Lo Recordings in 2008, and the band performs on the Glade Stage at Glastonbury in 2009. In 2011, Red Snapper releases Key on V2 Benelux, with the original members joined by Tom Challenger and guest vocalists Gavin Clark and Eliza Carthy. The band tours Europe later that year.

Film work and later appearances

In 2014, Red Snapper releases Hyena on Lo Recordings. The album features music composed to accompany the film Touki Bouki. In 2016, the band tours Belarus and performs at the Canary Wharf Jazz Festival.