5756 - THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS - Inland Emperor (2013)

THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS
''INLAND EMPEROR''
APRIL 16 2013
47:39

1 /Profundo Grosso
Michael Andrews / Karl Denson / Chris Stillwell / Robert Walter/3:53
2 /Bitch Inside Me
Michael Andrews / Robert Walter/2:34
3 /Multiplier
Robert Walter/4:35
4 /Old Crow
Michael Andrews / Robert Walter/3:52
5 /Bomb Pop
Michael Andrews / Karl Denson / Redfield / Chris Stillwell / Robert Walter/6:26
6 /Better Get a Jump on It
Michael Andrews / Karl Denson / Redfield / Chris Stillwell / Robert Walter/3:36
7 /Breaking Blood
Michael Andrews/3:35
8 /Inland Emperor
Robert Walter/3:39
9 /Wandering
Michael Andrews / Robert Walter/4:15
10 /Diminishing Blackness
Michael Andrews / Chris Stillwell / Robert Walter/6:54
11 /Trashtruck
Robert Walter/4:20

John Bigham /Vocals
Davey Chegwidden /Percussion
Karl Denson /Flute, Saxophone, Vocals
Elgin Park /Guitar, Vocals
Aaron Redfield /Drums
Chris Stillwell /Bass, Vocals
Robert Walter /Keyboards

REVIEW
by Matt Collar
While The Greyboy Allstars have showcased their ceaselessly creative take on jazz, funk, and dance music since their 1995 debut, West Coast Boogaloo, with 2013's Inland Emperor they raise the bar for themselves by delving into even more funky, stylistically varied sounds than on past recordings. This time out, minus DJ Greyboy, the band is stripped down to the core members of saxophonist/flutist Karl Denson, keyboardist Robert Walter, guitarist/vocalist Elgin Park, bassist/vocalist Chris Stillwell, and drummer Aaron Redfield. The Greyboy Allstars tend to take their time between releasing albums (it was ten years between 1997's A Town Called Earth and 2007's What Happened to Television?) and clearly that has given them time to develop all sorts of musical interests and influences. Here we get a menagerie of sounds that are so evocative and mood-setting, they almost work as a soundtrack to a film. There is the creepy, psychedelic opening number "Profundo Grosso"; with its languid organ and fuzz guitar it could easily be the theme to a '60s Italian horror movie. We also get the '90s acid jazz synth funk of "Multiplier" with its crisp, percussive guitar riff, 8-bit-inspired keyboard hits, and synthesizer strings set against a soulful saxophone melody. The Greyboy Allstars also deliver several cuts with vocals, including the '70s folk-soul number "Old Crow" and the '70s deep funk-inspired "Bitch Inside Me." Later in the album, the band leaves room for several far-reaching, exploratory songs including the hypnotic "Diminishing Blackness," which sounds like a Doors instrumental B-side, and the grungy saxophone skronkfest "Trashtruck." Ultimately, Inland Emperor is an engaging, cinematic album that never fails to grab your attention.

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? and in 2013, the Greyboy Allstars delivered the album Inland Emperor.

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3953 - THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS - What Happened To Television? (2007)

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?

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3952 - THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS - A Town Called Earth (1997)

THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS
''A TOWN CALLED EARTH''
JUNE 10 1997
73:09

1/Turnip's Big Move
Karl Denson/4:22
2/Planet of the Superkids
Robert Walter/5:29
3/Happy Friends
Michael Andrews / Zak Najor / Chris Stillwell / Robert Walter/9:46
4/The Many Moods of Erik Newson
Zak Najor / Chris Stillwell/7:43
5/Quantico, Va
Karl Denson/10:16
6/Toys R Us
M. Andrews / Karl Denson / Zak Najor/4:10
7/A Town Called Earth
M. Andrews / Zak Najor / Chris Stillwell / Robert Walter/15:20
8/Decembers Bicycle
M. Andrews/6:00
9/Blues for Celia (Cee Cee's Blues)
Karl Denson/7:33
10/Sportscaster
M. Andrews/2:30

Karl Denson /Flute, Percussion, Saxophone
Elgin Park /Bass, Guitar
A.B. Navarez /Percussion
Chris Stillwell /Bass
Robert Walter /Keyboards

REVIEW
by Ryan Randall Goble
A Town Called Earth is a fresh combination of jazz, R&B, soul, and funk that reminds us of the vitality of live funk in an era dominated by pre-packaged samples. Zak Najor (drums), Robert Walter (keys), Karl Denson (sax and flute), and Elgin Park (guitars and bass) embrace their musical history and cover a diverse range of styles. Denson's flute on "Blues for Celia" recalls Herbie Mann's progressive flute work of the late '60s, when he worked with a Memphis-based horn section. "The Many Moods of Erik Newson" and "A Town Called Earth" pull from Miles Davis' Bitches Brew work as well as alt-rockers like the Smashing Pumpkins. Some songs, like "Sportscaster," may seem pithy unless you give the tracks a careful listen, so please do.

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?

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3946 - GREYBOY ALLSTARS WITH FRED WESLEY - West Coast Boogaloo (1995)

THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS WITH FRED WESLEY
''WEST COAST BOOGALOO''
DECEMBER 1 1995
44:28

1. Soul Dream/5:14
2. Let The Music Take Your Mind/5:43
3. Fried Grease/6:17
4. Fire-Eater/4:34
5. Tenor Man/7:44
6. Miss Riverside/6:00
7. Gravee/4:03
8. The Browns At Home/5:04

Karl Denson /Composer, Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor), Vocals
Elgin Park /Guitar
Craig Levitz /Percussion
Chris Stillwell /Bass
Harold Todd /Flute, Sax (Tenor)
Robert Walter /Organ, Piano (Electric)
Fred Wesley /Trombone

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?

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