* En anglais uniquement
Instrumental jazz-funk is the name of
Robert Walter's game. The top-notch organ/piano player was a founding member of
the Greyboy Allstars, with whom he played for five years and toured extensively throughout North America and Europe. He has also played and recorded with jazz and funk icons
Fred Wesley,
Melvin Sparks,
Andy Bey, and
Reuben Wilson, and he contributed to the soundtrack of the 1998 film Zero Effect. In 1996, Walter released a solo album featuring sax great
Gary Bartz called Spirit of '70. Two years later he formed Robert Walter's 20th Congress in San Diego. The band also includes
Cochemea Gastelum on alto sax and flute,
Chris Stillwell on bass,
George Sluppick on drums and percussion, and Chuck Padra on congas, bongos, and percussion. The band tours the U.S. and Canada steadily, playing originals (including some of the songs Walter wrote for
the Greyboy Allstars) as well as material from
Grant Green,
Reuben Wilson, and others. An EP, Health and Fitness, preceded the band's July 2000 full-length release
Money Shot on Fog City Records. ~ Ann Wickstrom