Robert Walter's 20th Congress: Money Shot

Jim Santella

Senior Contributor since 1997

Jim Santella has been contributing CD reviews, concert reviews and DVD reviews to AAJ since 1997. His work has also appeared in Southland Blues, The L.A. Jazz Scene, and Cadence Magazine.

Recent articles (1,677 total)

Published: September 1, 2000

The classic soul-jazz organ combo is alive and well. Big John Patton and Grant Green gave us "Yodel." Here, Robert Walter and Elgin Park tear it up. Drummer Stanton Moore provides a solid Bo Diddley beat, as saxophonist Cochema Juan Gastelum offers echoes of that soulful sound. Live audiences would have to be on their feet dancing within seconds.

Walter's debut album is an enhanced CD with a 5-minute video and all the tracks & information online. It's one of the best CD-enhanced packages I've seen. Photography, video, comments and music all fit together neatly.

Walter's title track smokes. Like much of the album, the arrangement inspires one to "get on up" and boogaloo. It's powerful music with swirling changes in mood. Organist, drummer, saxophone, and guitar work together over lively dance rhythms to provide music that's both thought provoking and physical.

Track Listing: White Russ; (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away; Rack & Pinion; Instant Lawn; The Yodel; Shemp Time; Money Shot; I?m Over It; Blues for Y2K.

Personnel: Robert Walter- Hammond Organ, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Fender Rhodes, Fender Rhodes piano bass, WLM electric organ; Cochema Juan Gastelum- alto saxophone, electric saxophone, flute, tambourine; Stanton Moore- drums, tambourine; David Carano- electric bass, guitar; Chuck Prada- congas, percussion; Elgin Park- electric guitar on "The Yodel" and "Shemp Time;" George Sluppick- percussion on "Blues for Y2K;" Jake Najor- drums on the enhanced CD interludes.

Record Label: Fog City Records
Style: Funk/Groove