# Mark Lettieri: Groove, Restraint, and the Art of the Pocket

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bandwich-tapes-6690876/mark-lettieri-groove-restraint-and-the-art-of-the-pocket
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bandwich-tapes-6690876/mark-lettieri-groove-restraint-and-the-art-of-the-pocket.md
Podcast: [The Bandwich Tapes](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bandwich-tapes-6690876)
Published: 2026-03-30T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/64b7dbc2
Audio file: https://2.gum.fm/op3.dev/e/pdcn.co/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/pdst.fm/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/media.transistor.fm/64b7dbc2/96e4cf4e.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-bandwich-tapes-6690876/episodes/mark-lettieri-groove-restraint-and-the-art-of-the-pocket
Duration seconds: 2575

## Resource

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with guitarist and composer Mark Lettieri for a conversation that lives right at the intersection of groove, discipline, and musical curiosity. Mark has spent years carving out a distinctive voice on the guitar—whether through his solo work, his baritone guitar explorations, or his playing with Snarky Puppy and Fearless Flyers—and this conversation is a window into how that voice developed. We talk about what has been a particularly full year for Mark: touring internationally, playing iconic rooms like the Blue Note, and balancing the demands of the road with the rare gift of time at home. For Mark, staying active isn’t just part of the job—it’s a creative engine. The more he plays, the more ideas emerge. One of my favorite parts of our conversation centers on restraint —the idea that what you don’t play can matter just as much as what you do. Mark reflects on the records he grew up listening to, where the entire band worked together to shape a moment, and how those lessons show up when he’s on stage or in the studio with world-class musicians. We also get into the nuts and bolts of being a working musician today: communication in the studio, professionalism on the gig, showing up prepared, and reading the room. Along the way, Mark shares stories about his early career in advertising and PR, a surprising David Crosby connection that introduced him to open tunings straight from the source, and what’s ahead—including a fascinating upcoming project with sitarist Purbhayan Chatterjee , new baritone-driven material, and the continuing musical adventures that connect his solo work, Snarky Puppy, and Fearless Flyers. Key Takeaways Restraint is musical power — sometimes the most impactful choice is knowing when not to play. Gr…

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