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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.
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