Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, the Motet is a large funk-, jazz- and Afrobeat-influenced ensemble. Formed by drummer and bandleader Dave Watts in 1998, the Motet originally began as a collective with rotating members. However, since the 2000s, the group has remained a core sextet with various lineup changes and Watts as the sole original member. An exuberant, lithe outfit, the Motet is known for their high-energy live shows and cross-pollinated musical sound.

It’s a sound they’ve captured on such albums as 1999’s Breathe, 2001’s Play, 2004’s Music for Life, and 2006’s Instrumental Dissent. In 2009, they released Dig Deep, which found them incorporating electronics into the mix and covering a handful of songs by Fela Kuti. The band’s seventh studio album, 2014’s eponymously titled The Motet, featured a more collaborative approach than previous albums. In 2016, they delivered Totem, featuring production from Soulive’s Eric Krasno.

The Motet is available for corporate events, private shows, milestone celebrations (birthday, anniversary), fundraisers, festivals, and more.