One of the seminal modern jazz-funk bands to emerge during the early '90s "rare groove" revival, fiery quintet the Greyboy Allstars bring their potent grooves to the Bay Area for three shows starting Thursday. Formed in 1994 at the behest of their namesake San Diego-based acid jazz/funk producer DJ Greyboy to play the record release party for his Ubiquity Records debut Freestylin' (saxophonist Karl Denson had played on the album), the quintet drew on the creme of the Southern California city's young soul-jazz players. In addition to touring veteran and de facto leader Denson, the group featured keyboardist Robert Walter, guitarist Michael Andrews (playing under his stage name Elgin Park), bassist Chris Stillwell and drummer Zak Najor.
Quickly establishing a local following with their hard-grooving take on the '60s and '70s sounds of such boogaloo legends as Hammond B-3 maestros Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff and Brother Jack McDuff as well as the inevitable influence of funk godfather James Brown, the band began playing regular gigs up and down the West Coast. The Greyboy Allstars received a particularly warm embrace in San Francisco, where the group frequently sold out and sweaty dance parties at popular Mission club the Elbo Room. The Allstars made their proper recorded debut in 1995 with West Coast Boogaloo , an energetic effort for Greyboy Records that featured a guest appearance by legendary James Brown bandleader and funk trombone great Fred Wesley.
The group would continue.