The Greyboy Allstars
| The Greyboy Allstars | |
|---|---|
 The Greyboy Allstars performing at the 2006 Wakarusa Music Festival. |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | San Diego, California, USA |
| Genres | soul jazz acid jazz |
| Years active | 1993 – present |
| Labels | Sci Fidelity |
| Website | http://www.greyboyallstars.com/ |
| Members | |
| DJ Greyboy Karl Denson Robert Walter Chris Stillwell Elgin Park Eric Kalb |
|
| Past members | |
| Zak Najor Alan Evans |
|
The Greyboy Allstars (GBA) are a San Diego funk and jazz group created in the early 1990s. The group began as collaboration of DJ Greyboy (turntable) with Karl Denson (saxophone, flute) during weekly shows at the Green Circle Bar in San Diego and on the DJ Greyboy albums Home Cooking and Freestylin’. Together they gradually gathered musicians co-founding a house band including Robert Walter (keyboards), Chris Stillwell (bass), Elgin Park (also known as Mike Andrews) (guitar), and Zak Najor (drums). The Greyboy Allstars were a major part of the mid-90s acid jazz movement and a catalyst for renewed interest in late 60s/early 70s soul jazz. Denson has described the Greyboy Allstars as a boogaloo band, a distinction which has set them apart from other contemporary soul jazz/acid jazz combos.
In 1995, The Greyboy Allstars released their first album, West Coast Boogaloo, featuring support from James Brown trombonist and bandleader Fred Wesley. DJ Greyboy was uninterested in touring and the band continued on with his name led by Denson. In 1997 they released their second studio album, A Town Called Earth. Additionally, both Walter and Denson released solo albums backed by members of the band. Walter's album, titled Spirit of ’70, had additional support from Gary Bartz on alto sax, and Denson's The D Stands for Diesel featured vocalist Andy Bey. The Greyboy Allstars released a live album simply entitled Live in 1999. DJ Greyboy returned to collaborate with the band for the recording of What Happened to Television? released on April 17, 2007, The Greyboy Allstars' first studio album in nearly 10 years.
Before joining the band, bassist Chris Stillwell had a successful career as a highschool phys-ed instructor in his hometown of San Diego. His pupils lovingly refer to him as Coach C -- a moniker that is commonly cheered at the live shows.
Drummer Zak Najor played drums for the studio recording of What Happened to Television? However, Eric Kalb (Deep Banana Blackout) played drums for the subsequent tour.
The Greyboy Allstars toured nationally 2008 ending in New Orleans with sold out shows during Jazz Fest. They were also the closing act for the 2010 Telluride Jazz Celebration 2010 Lineup.
The Greyboy Allstars performed on Jam Cruise 9 in January 2011, and at the Outsidelands Music Festival in San Francisco in August 2011.
[edit] Discography
- West Coast Boogaloo (1995)
- A Town Called Earth (1997)
- Live (1999)
- What Happened to Television? (2007) Allmusic (link)
[edit] References
- Biography at AllAboutJazz Retrieved August 26, 2007
- Biography at AllMusic Retrieved August 26, 2007
