If ever there was a perfect time for the return of boogaloo revivalists The Greyboy Allstars, it would be now—not just to wrestle the negative connotations newly attached to their niche genre by radical right-wing Americans, but because we as a nation are in desperate need of uplifting music. The Caribbean funk the five piece has so masterfully churned out since 1994 will take the form of a studio recording for the fifth time in twenty-six years with Como De Allstars, a surprise LP the collective will drop July 3.
Composed of saxophonist Karl Denson (a touring member of The Rolling Stones), guitarist Elgin Park (a.k.a. Mike Andrews, who recently scored King of Staten Island), organist Robert Walter, bassist Chris Stillwell, and drummer Aaron Redfield, the collective is announcing the album today by sharing its title track, an instrumental that’s as empowering as it is upbeat. “The idea appealed to us to write a song that spoke to the importance of unity and self empowerment,” shares guitarist Andrews.
“Usually we try not to preach, so we kind of concealed it inside a longer instrumental groove. I wrote the lyrics on the spot. Karl Denson sang the lead vocal and the rest of us sang backups as a group into the mic. I think it’s more important to remember the power we all have to make change in our own lives and society in general. We made the point at the time because we felt it was relevant then, but in extreme times like these, we’re reminded that the power of our collective voice is needed more than ever.”
Stream the track below, and expect Como De Allstars out July 3. Additionally, the collective is sharing that their classic debut West Coast Boogaloo will see a reissue courtesy of Light in the Attic on August 7. Stay tuned for more details.
