The Greyboy Allstars
Encyclopedia
The Greyboy Allstars 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.
DJ Greyboy
DJ Greyboy is an acid jazz DJ from San Diego, California now Residing in Long Beach, California. Back in the day he was the partner of Rob Dyrdek in Crime on the Turn Tables. His style of music includes hip hop, soul, funk, experimental, and acid jazz rare grooves. Greyboy has tracks on numerous...
(turntable) with Karl Denson
Karl Denson
Karl Denson is a funk and jazz saxophonist, flutist and vocalist from San Diego, California. He was a member of Lenny Kravitz's band and has co-founded and led The Greyboy Allstars. Denson has recorded with artists including Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Blind Boys of Alabama, Blackalicious,...
(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
Robert Walter (musician)
Robert Walter is a keyboard player specializing in instrumental soul jazz on the Hammond B3 organ. He is a founding memberof The Greyboy Allstars, and has since led his own band Robert Walter's 20th Congress.-Biography:...
(keyboards), Chris Stillwell
Chris Stillwell
Chris Stillwell is the bassist for the band The Greyboy Allstars. He was born to David and Cheryle Stillwell on June 4, 1966 in Seattle, Washington. The family moved to San Diego when Chris was about 6 months old. He stole his first guitar from his older sister's closet and didn't put it down for...
(bass), Elgin Park (also known as Mike Andrews
Michael Andrews
Michael Andrews may refer to:* Michael Andrews , British artist* Michael Andrews , US musician* Michael Andrews , Australian rugby league footballer* Michael A...
) (guitar), and Zak Najor (drums). The Greyboy Allstars were a major part of the mid-90s acid jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
movement and a catalyst for renewed interest in late 60s/early 70s soul jazz
Soul jazz
Soul jazz is a development of jazz incorporating strong influences from blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues in music for small groups, often an organ trio featuring a Hammond organ.- Overview :Soul jazz is often associated with hard bop. Mark C...
. Denson has described the Greyboy Allstars as a boogaloo
Boogaloo
Boogaloo or bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans, Puerto Ricans and other groups. The style was a fusion of popular African American R&B and soul with mambo and son montuno...
band, a distinction which has set them apart from other contemporary soul jazz
Soul jazz
Soul jazz is a development of jazz incorporating strong influences from blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues in music for small groups, often an organ trio featuring a Hammond organ.- Overview :Soul jazz is often associated with hard bop. Mark C...
/acid jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
combos.
In 1995, The Greyboy Allstars released their first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, West Coast Boogaloo, featuring support from James Brown trombonist and bandleader Fred Wesley
Fred Wesley
Fred Wesley is an American jazz and funk trombonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
. 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
Gary Bartz
Gary Bartz is an American alto and soprano saxophonist and clarinetist.Bartz graduated from the Baltimore City College high school and The Juilliard School...
on alto sax, and Denson's The D Stands for Diesel featured vocalist Andy Bey
Andy Bey
Andrew W. Bey is a jazz singer and pianist.Bey has a wide vocal range, with his four octave baritone voice.He worked on a television show, Startime, with Connie Francis and sang for Louis Jordan....
. 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
Deep Banana Blackout
Deep Banana Blackout is a New Orleans style Jazz-funk band from Fairfield County, Connecticut. Formed in the summer of 1995 when members of two bands joined forces in their spare time to run through old Funk & Soul standards...
) played drums for the subsequent tour.
The Greyboy Allstars toured nationally 2008 ending in New Orleans with sold out shows during Jazz Fest
Jazz fest
Jazz fest may mean:*a music festival for Jazz*Cork Jazz Festival*Montreal International Jazz Festival*New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival...
. They were also the closing act for the 2010 Telluride Jazz Celebration
Telluride Jazz Celebration
Produced by Telluride Society For Jazz, Telluride's annual jazz festival has been around since 1977. Telluride has been the site of an annual cultural event produced by the Telluride Society for Jazz, the 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.
Discography
- West Coast Boogaloo (1995)
- A Town Called Earth (1997)
- Live (1999)
- What Happened to Television? (2007) Allmusic ([ link])