The Greyboy Allstars began as an instrumental extension of DJ Greyboy's weekly residency spinning records at San Diego's now-defunct Green Circle Bar. Soon enough, the group was making music together professionally and their seminal 1995 debut, West Coast Boogaloo, introduced their groove-alicious, feel-good jazz to the masses. Several years of touring later, Greyboy retired from the road and the remaining members — headed up by Hammond organist and keyboardist Robert Walter, and saxophonist/flautist/vocalist Karl Denson — continued recording and performing together until their eventual hiatus in 2000. But as with most high-quality groups, these guys just couldn't stay away from each other forever. Last year's reunion tour was not only a success but proof that Greyboy Allstars still had it, and maybe even better than before, each member having worked on substantially diverse solo and side projects, and able to bring a whole new set of skills and sound ideas to the table. This past April, the band released its first studio album in a decade, What Happened to Television?, which fuses old-school funk and soul with the band's easy-going West Coast jazz. The Greyboy Allstars are on tour again, this time in support of their new release, and the bus stops in St. Petersburg tonight. Mon., May 7, 8 p.m., State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, $19.95 in advance/$25 day of, 727-895-3045, statetheatreconcerts.com.
This article appears in May 2-8, 2007.
