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Greyboy Allstars

On the heels of highly successful reunion tour last year, The Greyboy Allstars met in the studio for the first time in a decade to make What Happened to Television?, which is also the group's first collaboration with DJ Greyboy since their seminal 1995 debut, West Coast Boogaloo.

As on that album, which featured former James Brown musical director Fred Wesley, one hears on What Happened to Television? elements of the old-school funk and soul that have always preoccupied the band's namesake DJ, who returns here as co-producer in addition to performing on a track.

It was as an extension of Greyboy's weekly residency spinning records at San Diego's now defunct Green Circle Bar that the Allstars first formed in 1993-a diversity of emerging independent musicians who coalesced around a scene-defining DJ and his unique ear for music. After a few years in which word of the group-and, soon, the Allstars themselves-made their way around the world, it became clear to Greyboy that he was not interested in the touring life. So, retaining his name and spirit, the band continued on without him, recording and performing together for several more years.

What Happened to Television? reunites Greyboy with the band he and co-founder Karl Denson originally handpicked-Robert Walter (keyboards), Elgin Park (aka Mike Andrews; guitar, vocals), Chris Stillwell (bass, vocals) and Zak Najor (drums, percussion, vocals)-each of whom shared in the album's songwriting responsibilities.

Television was written and recorded in about a week's time, even though all of the writing took place during, rather than before, the group's reunion in the studio. "No one was allowed to bring any ideas that they had in. We had to sit down and all create together," explains Elgin Park.

The album was recorded totally live, without the use of computers. What few edits were made were done by the old-fashioned technique of cutting tape by hand. Capturing the sounds when truly fresh was, in part, a nod to the spontaneous brilliance of the band's shows. But it was more a case of the music simply feeling great to everyone right away that allowed the recording to begin-and be completed-so quickly.

"We were trying to be more composition minded and work on songwriting and song craft," says Walter. "It was possible that we'd go in there and not come up with anything and be sort of stuck with a bunch of material that wasn't really developed. But it flowed." He adds, "The music really is a product of the group," an observation supported by the way the album sounds unlike anything they've done before together, or in any of the band members' divergent solo careers.

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297
Album Review

The Greyboy Allstars: What Happened to Television?

Read "What Happened to Television?" reviewed by Matt Leskovic


Flip through albums in the bargain Funk/Soul/R&B bin at your local record store and you'll find a mix of classic Meters, Mayfield, and James Brown LPs. If a copy of the Greyboy Allstars' What Happened To Television? winds up in your stack, you probably wouldn't guess it was recorded in 2007.

While many contemporary funk outfits have diluted their music with commercially driven slickness, the Greyboy Allstars have stuck to their roots. Their sound has not smoothed out--it's ...

173
Album Review

The Greyboy AllStars: What Happened to Television?

Read "What Happened to Television?" reviewed by Doug Collette


Having formed almost fifteen years ago in 1993, The Greyboy AllStars are an urban myth of sorts. Their early forays into funk flowed throughout the jamband scene that coalesced in the mid-to-late 1990s, which is where the principals of the quintet found a name for themselves. Now hornman Karl Denson (leader of Tiny Universe) and keyboardist Robert Walter (head of 20th Congress) are principals (though only slightly more so than their peers) of the first Greyboy AllStars studio recording in ...

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190

Performance / Tour

The Greyboy Allstars: Spring Tour and New Album

The Greyboy Allstars: Spring Tour and New Album

Source: JamBase

THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS RETURN WITH SPRING TOUR AND NEW ALBUM RECORDING THIS MONTH The Greyboy Allstars are back, kicking off their new Spring Tour tonight with a two-night run with Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey at the Double Door in Chicago, IL. After Chi-town, the quintet heads south to Denver, followed by hits in Vail, Los Angeles & Brooklyn. The tour wraps up with a final two night stand in New Orleans to close out Jazzfest 2011. For tickets and info ...

70

Performance / Tour

Greyboy Allstars Two CA Dates

Greyboy Allstars Two CA Dates

Source: JamBase

TWO EXCLUSIVE MID-DECEMBER DATES The Greyboy Allstars will perform two exclusive shows in mid December. The band return to their hometown roots with a show at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA on Dec. 17 and head up to wine country for a show at The Uptown Theatre in Napa, CA on Dec. 18. Dangerbird records recording artists Fitz and the Tantrums will support GBA in Solana Beach. Tickets for both shows are onsale now at greyboyallstars.com. THE GREYBOY ...

171

Performance / Tour

Greyboy Allstars: Northwest Dates

Greyboy Allstars: Northwest Dates

Source: JamBase

The Greyboy Allstars: Northwest Dates

The Greyboy Allstars The Greyboy Allstars kick off 2010 with several dates throughout the Northwest. The band returns to the Showbox in Seattle on January 20, hits The Venue in Vancouver BC on January 21, The Crystal Ballroom in Portland on Friday January 22 and The Nightlight in Bellingham, WA on Saturday January 23. Orgone will be supporting The Allstars on all dates. GBA plays The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

What Happened to...

Sci Fidelity Records / Knowledge Base
2007

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What Happened to TV?

Sci Fidelity Records / Knowledge Base
2007

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