What Happened to Television?

In the mid-1990s, San Diego’s Greyboy Allstars established themselves as an act to be reckoned with, thanks to their soulful, sophisticated blend of jazz, funk, and boogaloo. Yet, in the decade following 1997’s excellent A Town Called Earth, the quintet stayed out of the studio and toured only infrequently, as keyboardist Robert Walter led his own 20th Congress and reed man Karl Denson pursued his Tiny Universe project. A 2006 reunion tour precipitated a return to the studio, with old cohort (and namesake) DJ Greyboy as co-producer. The result is a focused, lively album that finds the band branching out, as on their cover of Nancy Wilson’s “How Glad I Am,” featuring vocal trio the Living Sisters. While “Deck Shoes” (with Denson on flute), “Left Coast Boogaloo,” and the title track emphasize their smooth, supple side, “V Neck Sweater” is funk of a much heavier nature, and “Knowledge Room” calls to mind the fusion experiments of the early ‘70s. While “Give the Drummer Some More” and “Still Waiting” owe a nod to James Brown, the dreamy “Pigeons Under Water” owes more to Roy Ayers. Denson and Walter always shine, but the secret weapon remains guitarist Elgin Park, whether providing fleet lead work or surging rhythm.