Wednesday March 20th
@ The Culture Room
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pics taken by Jonathan D. Nimerfroh

Robert Walter is building a reputation as one of America's finest jazz-funk keyboardists. As a founding member of the Greyboy Allstars, he performed with the group for five years, touring extensively in North America and Europe. He contributed to the soundtrack of the Castle Rock motion picture "Zero Effect" and has performed and recorded with such jazz and funk heavyweights as Fred Wesley, Melvin Sparks, Andy Bey and Reuben Wilson.

In 1996 Robert released "Spirit of '70", a solo album featuring saxophone legend Gary Bartz. Now he leads "Robert Walter's 20th Congress" - a new band with a rapidly growing following. The band features: Robert on electric piano and organ, Cochemea Gastelum on alto sax and flute, Chris Stillwell on bass, George Sluppick on drums, and Chuck Prada on percussion. 

During the fall of 1998 the band opened for Herbie Hancock in Boulder, Colorado. According to the Colorado Daily's Dave Kirby, "Walter's set was a clean, tight, tough-as-nails serving of funk-based jazz and post-swing near bop, and judging by the reaction of the unusually receptive crowd, Walter and his bass-drums-sax outfit absolutely nailed one of the biggest gigs of his life."

Robert Walter's Hammond Organ leads this tight quartet through a stable of boogaloo favorites.  Drawing on material from Grant Green to Reuben Wilson, the 20th Congress is not afraid to stretch out.  Robert also includes many of the tunes he wrote for the Greyboy Allstars such as 2% Body Fat, Gravee, Sunday School and Freshman 10.