Subtly is not a word often associated with bombastic Brooklynites Snarky Puppy, but the follow up to the Grammy Award winning Family Dinner Vol. 1 is just that, to begin with at least. Once again using the flexible virtuosity of the band as a means to unite a rainbow of disparate styles, bassist and bandleader Michael League has used his razor-sharp arranging skills to make the neo-folk of Becca Stevens’ ‘I Asked’, collaborating with Swedish experimental folksters Väsen, the sultry South American rhythms of Susanna Baca and electro prog-pop of Knower all collide in mostly harmonious ways on this epic live-in-the-studio recording from a week of sessions in New Orleans. League’s other concept, along with bringing together multifarious guest singers, is to pair them in complimentary ways, thus Peruvian diva Baca finds herself chanting over the cool strutting ambidextrous eight-string guitar of Charlie Hunter on ‘Molino Moreno’. Where the concept breaks down is when the guest artist’s material is weaker than the band’s impeccably judged backing – the watery love potion that is Chris Turner’s ‘Liquid Love’ is a case in point – and the artful soul of Laura Mvula’s ‘Sing To The Moon’ seems to flatten the energy levels in spite of the band’s best efforts. Yet when the music and concept soars it’s hard to fault – the stunning eight-minute take on Malian mega-star Salif Keita’s ‘Soro (Afriki)’ is breathtaking – League’s darting duelling flute arrangements spotlighting the brilliance of Hermeto Pascoal sideman Carlos Malta and former Flecktones sax/flute man Jeff Coffin, who also gets an extended solo spot on Knower’s ‘I Remember’. If Jacob Collier’s vocoder harmonies sit a little awkwardly in the mix of ‘Don’t You Know’, his acoustic piano solo is sophistication personified: it’s worth watching the accompanying DVD of the sessions just to see the astonished looks of the band as the 20-year-old calmly takes harmonic invention to the next level. David Crosby’s closing ‘Somebody Home’ is another highlight, as the band once again sympathetically cradle the song’s heartfelt sentiments, and it’s no surprise that both he and Keita have since asked League to produce their respective new albums. Whether this album connects will surely be down to just how broad the listener’s tastes are, but with its impressive, laser-guided grooves and wealth of sonic riches, it’s the perfect introduction to a mind-boggling array of musical talent.