Knowledge Room Recordings

Since they’ve only released four albums during their almost 20 years together, The Greyboy Allstars are more of a funk collective than a band at this point. The group’s members all hold down successful gigs elsewhere – most notably saxophonist Karl Denson, who leads his own Tiny Universe, and guitarist Elgin Park, who has composed music for a variety of Hollywood projects. But the scattered nature of the Allstars’ other projects lends variety to their latest, Inland Emperor, and Denson, Park, keyboardist Robert Walter and bassist Chris Stillwell all bring their own flavor to this funk and soul stew. The organ-led opener “Profundo Grasso” could be a lost Santana classic. “Trashtruck” is packed with heavy surf guitars and a tidal-wave groove, and “Breaking Blood” is feel-good, full-tilt funk. The Greyboy Allstars only pop up every few years; step up for this heavy dose of funk while it’s fresh.