THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS
''WHAT HAPPENED TO TELEVISION?''
APRIL 17 2007
44:10
1. V Neck Sweater/2:34
2. What Happened To TV?/3:29
3. Still Waiting/3:22
4. Deck Shoes/4:21
5. How Glad I Am/2:50
6. Back In The Game/5:04
7. Left Coast Boogaloo/3:50
8. Old School Cylons/3:21
9. Knowledge Room/4:29
10. Pigeons Under Water/4:33
11. Give The Drummer Some More/6:14
Karl Denson /Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Vocals
DJ Greyboy Additional Personnel, Guest Artist
Elgin Park /Guitar
Inara George /Additional Personnel, Guest Artist, Vocals
Heather Grook /Additional Personnel
The Living Sisters /Additional Personnel
Eleni Mandell /Guest Artist
Zak Najor /Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Becky Stark /Guest Artist
Chris Stillwell /Bass, Vocals
Robert Walter /Keyboards
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz
Since both reedman Karl Denson and keyboardist Robert Walter have busy solo careers, there is a nine-year gap between this release and Greyboy Allstars' last in 1997. Little has changed in the band's sound though, as the collective, with assistance from producer DJ Greyboy himself, who had been missing from the act that bears his name, rejoins for its third studio set. Although the bulk of the soloing is by Denson and Walter, it's the rhythm section of bassist Chris Stillwell and especially drummer Zak Najor that tightens the rubber band driving this music. Most of the album is instrumental but a few vocals pop up throughout to keep listeners on their toes. The most attention grabbing track features a vocal trio named the Living Sisters -- comprised of Inara George, Eleni Mandell and Becky Stark -- who contribute a sort of twisted Andrews Sisters slant on the Nancy Wilson '60s hit "How Glad I Am." It's one of the album's most concise and tightest performances and is not coincidentally the first (and likely only) single. George also appears in a supporting role on the get on the good foot funk of "Still Waiting," another vocal. Denson picks up flute for a shoulder shimmying "Deck Shoes" and "Back in the Game," sparring with Walter's B-3 on the latter for a classic example of the hip shaking funk this band seems to lay down in its sleep. The tune also features a George Benson-influenced solo from guitarist Elgin Park who generally lays low for the majority of the set, preferring to stick with rhythm. The album kicks off with a sizzling two-and-a-half minute slab of hot sauce in "V Neck Sweater" and never lets up from there. At its best, this band combines James Brown's knack for slamming riffs with the swinging groove of the Crusaders. It makes for a heady, irresistible sound perfect for the dancefloor or a top-down convertible ride on a sunny day.
BIOGRAPHY
by John Bush
An acid jazz band that focuses more on jazz than groove-oriented dance music, the Greyboy Allstars came together in 1993 when noted rare-groove DJ Greyboy (aka Andreas Stevens) met up with Karl Denson, a saxophone player who was then touring with Lenny Kravitz. The pair collaborated on two tracks for Ubiquity Records' Home Cookin' compilation, and then worked on Greyboy's 1994 solo album for Ubiquity, Freestylin'. After forming their own label, Greyboy Records, the duo gradually amassed members for a house band -- guitarist Michael Andrews (formerly with the Origin), bassist Chris Stillwell, drummer Zak Najor, and keyboard player Robert Walter. the Greyboy Allstars toured around the area and in 1995 released their debut album, West Coast Boogaloo (with contributions from groove legend Fred Wesley). Tours throughout Europe and the States followed that year (as well as a second solo album from Greyboy himself), and the group released a concert document, Live, in April 1997. Two months later, the Greyboy Allstars released their second studio LP, Town Called Earth, recorded with a recent recruit, guitarist Elgin Park. Apart from Greyboy, Karl Denson and Robert Walter have each recorded solo LPs as well. As a group, Greyboy returned in 2007 with What Happened to Television?
''WHAT HAPPENED TO TELEVISION?''
APRIL 17 2007
44:10
1. V Neck Sweater/2:34
2. What Happened To TV?/3:29
3. Still Waiting/3:22
4. Deck Shoes/4:21
5. How Glad I Am/2:50
6. Back In The Game/5:04
7. Left Coast Boogaloo/3:50
8. Old School Cylons/3:21
9. Knowledge Room/4:29
10. Pigeons Under Water/4:33
11. Give The Drummer Some More/6:14
Karl Denson /Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Vocals
DJ Greyboy Additional Personnel, Guest Artist
Elgin Park /Guitar
Inara George /Additional Personnel, Guest Artist, Vocals
Heather Grook /Additional Personnel
The Living Sisters /Additional Personnel
Eleni Mandell /Guest Artist
Zak Najor /Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Becky Stark /Guest Artist
Chris Stillwell /Bass, Vocals
Robert Walter /Keyboards
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz
Since both reedman Karl Denson and keyboardist Robert Walter have busy solo careers, there is a nine-year gap between this release and Greyboy Allstars' last in 1997. Little has changed in the band's sound though, as the collective, with assistance from producer DJ Greyboy himself, who had been missing from the act that bears his name, rejoins for its third studio set. Although the bulk of the soloing is by Denson and Walter, it's the rhythm section of bassist Chris Stillwell and especially drummer Zak Najor that tightens the rubber band driving this music. Most of the album is instrumental but a few vocals pop up throughout to keep listeners on their toes. The most attention grabbing track features a vocal trio named the Living Sisters -- comprised of Inara George, Eleni Mandell and Becky Stark -- who contribute a sort of twisted Andrews Sisters slant on the Nancy Wilson '60s hit "How Glad I Am." It's one of the album's most concise and tightest performances and is not coincidentally the first (and likely only) single. George also appears in a supporting role on the get on the good foot funk of "Still Waiting," another vocal. Denson picks up flute for a shoulder shimmying "Deck Shoes" and "Back in the Game," sparring with Walter's B-3 on the latter for a classic example of the hip shaking funk this band seems to lay down in its sleep. The tune also features a George Benson-influenced solo from guitarist Elgin Park who generally lays low for the majority of the set, preferring to stick with rhythm. The album kicks off with a sizzling two-and-a-half minute slab of hot sauce in "V Neck Sweater" and never lets up from there. At its best, this band combines James Brown's knack for slamming riffs with the swinging groove of the Crusaders. It makes for a heady, irresistible sound perfect for the dancefloor or a top-down convertible ride on a sunny day.
BIOGRAPHY
by John Bush
An acid jazz band that focuses more on jazz than groove-oriented dance music, the Greyboy Allstars came together in 1993 when noted rare-groove DJ Greyboy (aka Andreas Stevens) met up with Karl Denson, a saxophone player who was then touring with Lenny Kravitz. The pair collaborated on two tracks for Ubiquity Records' Home Cookin' compilation, and then worked on Greyboy's 1994 solo album for Ubiquity, Freestylin'. After forming their own label, Greyboy Records, the duo gradually amassed members for a house band -- guitarist Michael Andrews (formerly with the Origin), bassist Chris Stillwell, drummer Zak Najor, and keyboard player Robert Walter. the Greyboy Allstars toured around the area and in 1995 released their debut album, West Coast Boogaloo (with contributions from groove legend Fred Wesley). Tours throughout Europe and the States followed that year (as well as a second solo album from Greyboy himself), and the group released a concert document, Live, in April 1997. Two months later, the Greyboy Allstars released their second studio LP, Town Called Earth, recorded with a recent recruit, guitarist Elgin Park. Apart from Greyboy, Karl Denson and Robert Walter have each recorded solo LPs as well. As a group, Greyboy returned in 2007 with What Happened to Television?
