The Greyboy Allstars

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Aaron Redfield: Drums | Karl Denson: Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Vocals | Robert Walker: Keyboards | Chris Stillwell: Bass guitar, Vocals | Elgin Park: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals

Genre: Blues & Soul, Funk, Jazz

Sound description: Funky soulful jazz.

RIYL: Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Herbie Hancock

Upcoming Local Shows

Synoposis

Inception: San Diego, 1991

Ex-Band Members: Zak Najor, Drums, Percussion Eric Kalb, Drums, Percussion Mike Andrews, Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric)

Current Status: The band released <em>What Happened to Television?</em> on April 17, 2007, their first album in eight years. Drummer Zak Najor played on the studio recording of the Greyboy Allstars’ latest album, but did not go on their latest tour. He was replaced by former Deep Banana Blackout drummer Eric Kalb.

Influences: Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Frank Zappa, Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters, Parliment Funkadelic

Background:

The Greyboy Allstars debuted in 1993, at the Green Circle Bar, where DJ Greyboy was a DJ. The band's original incarnation included Lenny Kravitz's saxophonist Karl Denson (who also plays flute), guitarist Mike Andrews (Elgin Park), keyboardist Robert Walter, bassist Chris Stillwell, and drummer Zak Najor.

The group came after a successful earlier collaboration of Denson and DJ Greyboy on the Greyboy albums Home Cooking and Freestylin’, featuring Greyboy spinning tracks over the band's instrumentals. Specializing in acid jazz and '60s/'70s soul jazz, Denson has described the Greyboy Allstars as a boogaloo band.

In 1995, the Greyboy Allstars released their first album, West Coast Boogaloo, featuring support from James Brown trombonist and bandleader Fred Wesley, who has also worked with Count Basie and Parliament-Funkadelic, and has arranged for everyone from Ray Charles to Van Morrison.

Two years later, the GBA released their second studio album, A Town Called Earth, in addition to both Robert Walter and Karl Denson issuing solo albums. On both of these solo releases, Walter and Denson were backed by the remaining members of the GBA. 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 band also has a concert album, Live in 1999. They were dormant for awhile, but have begun touring again, with most of the original members including DJ Greyboy. Drummer Zak Najor has been replaced by Aaron Redfield (who replaces Eric Kalb).

Former guitarist Mike Andrews (Elgin Park) helped score the film Donnie Darko, which included he and Gary Jules covering the Tears for Fears song “Mad World.”

On December 30, 2011, 68 year-old trombonist Fred Wesley (Count Basie, Parliament-Funkadelic, Ray Charles, Van Morrison) performed again with the Greyboys, with whom he recorded their debut album West Coast Boogaloo in 1995, at the Belly Up Tavern.

They played the 2012 Hangout Music Fest, held May 18 through 20 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, alongside current-and-former locals Tribal Seeds, Flogging Molly, Switchfoot, and Delta Spirit.

Discography

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