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Robert
Walter's 20th Congress- Money Shot
September 12, 2000
Original Release Date: September 12, 2000
Robert
Walter /Hammond Organ, Cochemea Juan Gastelum/Flute
& Alto Sax,
Elgin Park/Guitar, David Carano/Bass, George Sluppick,
Stanton Moore, Zak Najor/Drums, Chuck Prada/Percussion
1. White Russ 
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2. Rite Away, (Everybody Wanna Get Rich)
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3. Rack & Pinion
 4.
Instant Lawn
5. Yodel, The
6. Shemp Time
7. Money Shot
8. I'm Over It
9. Blues For Y2k
Review
Wow,
what a treat! Stereophile
Magazine calls Money Shot "Recording
of the Month." We call it "Recording of
the Year." Largely due to the genius of engineer
Dan Prothero of Fogcity
Records
this
album gets to sound as live and as authentic as possible.
There are no overdubs in the session. However, if the
band itself does not usher a spectacular performance,
this album wouldn't stay on top with the other classic
funk albums. This is perhaps the best jazz-funk CD since
Herbie Hancock's
Headhunters.
In
fact, Walter's band, consisting of mostly members from
the original Greyboy
Allstars, stays true to the roots of traditional
funk, borrowing inspiration from Hancock, Reuben
Wilson, Ramsey Lewis and the like. Too bad
the current bass player Chris Stillwell isn't
on the CD, because I consider his subtle and simple
playing one of the best in the industry these days.
Walter leads the band with panache; it is not difficult
to see shades of Jack MuDuff or Ramsey Lewis
in him. His playing also surpasses the current Herbie
Hancock. He first sets a disciplined tone and then lets
his band go off on tangents, and later reunites again
with the earlier discipline. That's called knowing what
the audience wants! Stan Moore sounds so real
on the drums it's uncanny! Cochemea's saxophone is traditional
yet unique. Apparently during my discussion with him,
he's quite well-read in a jazz sense. He says he gets
his influence from Miles Davis (a trumpet player!) and
the like. Though not as reassured as Karl Denson, I
think he has quite a unqiue sound that will make him
successful wherever he goes. Check out Prada on te percussion.
This dude is insane!
After
speaking with some of the band members this week in
Washington DC, they left me with the impression that
they are just very down-to-earth, laid-back people who
enjoy playing music for their audience and have fun
with it. If you haven't gotten this CD yet, get it because
this one is right on the money. 20th Congress will emerge
as the greatest jazz-funk band in the 21st Century,
I promise.
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