The Greyboy Allstars
High-octane soul-jazz with a hip-hop heartbeat. Gritty Hammond organ and sharp brass grooves that turn any room into a 1970s block party.
High-octane soul-jazz with a hip-hop heartbeat. Gritty Hammond organ and sharp brass grooves that turn any room into a 1970s block party.
Formed in San Diego in 1993, The Greyboy Allstars emerged as a pivotal force in the acid jazz and soul-jazz revival of the 1990s. The group was born from a collaboration between DJ Greyboy and saxophonist Karl Denson, bridging the gap between vinyl-sampling hip-hop culture and live improvisational jazz.
Their sound is characterized by a deep reverence for 1960s and 70s boogaloo and soul-jazz, specifically the works of Grant Green and Lou Donaldson, but updated with a rhythmic 'snap' informed by breakbeat culture. The band serves as a supergroup of sorts, featuring Denson (Tiny Universe, Rolling Stones), Robert Walter (20th Congress), and Michael Andrews (famed film composer). Their 1995 debut, 'West Coast Boogaloo,' solidified their status as leaders of the modern funk movement. Critically, they are praised for their technical precision and 'pocket' playing, avoiding the aimless noodling often associated with the jam band scene in favor of tight, song-oriented grooves. They remain a cornerstone of the live funk circuit, influencing a generation of groove-heavy acts like Lettuce and The New Mastersounds.
Shares acid jazz, organ, funk, nu jazz (signature)
Shares organ, jazz fusion, funk, nu jazz (signature)
Shares organ, soulful, jazz fusion, funk (signature)
Shares jazz fusion, funk, nu jazz, soul (subgenre)
Shares organ, jazz fusion, funk, soul (instrumentation)
Shares organ, jazz fusion, funk, nu jazz (signature)
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