Introducing: The Rare Sounds is the debut album of a new supergroup formed by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds and Robert Walter, Zak Najor, and Chris Stillwell of The Greyboy Allstars. While it’s the first album release from this crew, they’re far from strangers, having met back in 1996 on GBA’s first trip to the UK when Eddie and his predecessor band opened for them. Since then, their paths have criss-crossed many times including the WRD Trio (Walter, Roberts and Adam Deitch from Lettuce) album The Hit in 2021.
Unsurprisingly, this album melds the boogaloo sound of GBA and the groove-oriented, funk-soul of NMS together into a hip punch mix that makes the album glide from end-to-end. The collective energy of this quartet and their individual flair indeed blends some rare sounds. Follow along with me on the track-by-track journey.
Half A Mind starts like a locomotive with some bass heavy grooves pounding out from Chris Stillwell on bass and Zak Najor on drums. Robert Walter takes over with some rollicking rolling organ work and Eddie Roberts playing mostly rhythm guitar for this one. There’s no escaping the chugging pacing of this tune. In the seond ‘half’ Eddie takes over with the melody and this time Walter is playing in the background with the dynamic rhythym duo. Walter comes back to the head for the closeout and that’s a wrap, but not before the elevating finish.
Those Things You Do has Eddie open up and carry through with some call and response guitar playing by himself. Zak has a brief bridge solo before Walter comes to the front. One thing that tickles is the triangle / cymbal ringing throughout. Najor and Stillwell are absoulutely locked in. Walter gives a masterful performance here gliding all over the full keys range.
PYG is a more downtempo tune. I don’t think it’s intentional but Eddie’s main line reminds me of the lyric “Ain’t No Sunshine” from Bill Withers. Walter is on keys here initially, and he and Eddie play a haunting melody. This song reminds me of the old Creed Taylor CTI records of the early 70s featuring Wes Montgomery, George Benson and Deodato. Production values don’t get any better than this.
Lost Backpack feels like a familiar southern comfort song. Walter lays on the syrup extra thick. In an very odd way, I feel like this is a Cory Wong song slowed down to quarter speed — it’s got that upbeat feel but in a downbeat way. Maybe I’ve got too many songs catalogued but I hear the lyric “Thank You For Being A Friend” up in here.
Intensive Purposes takes you right to New Orlean with its 100% danceable melody. Hopefully this group will hit Jazz Fest next year and I’ll bear witness, if all things pan out. Again, Walter takes the band out for a cruise up and down the black and whites with some fancy footwork to boot. Eddie takes over the second half and it’s a great example of Eddie making his instrument literally vocalize as only he can do. The strings do the talking.
Yea, You is more modern funk fusion. For the lead in, Walter takes the lead and the remaining trio lock in for a raucous rumble. Eddie comes next with a torrent before Walter hits with a flurry. Najor tangs along and Stillwell brings some thunkder. Najor hits a short funky roll and the band rides the edgy theme out.
Headwaters of the River Jordan is my favorite tune on the album, full stop. That says a lot since I love the entire set. But there’s something about the sweet and guitar opening from Eddie that the group breaks into at an accelerated pace. It brings back some deep feelings that I can’t quite figure the origin of. It just hits me with such a a warm feel. Damn, the jazzy riffs from Eddie and Robert are like a blanket and a bonfire on a a cool beach.
One Hand is one 6-note cool hand. The opening guitar riff is instantly memorable and remarkable. It’s very interesting how if you’re familiar with these guys and their work individually and with other bands, you can hear all of that but in a combined way that you’ve never heard. Walter is again on keys with a nasty concoction that has induced some involuntary head bobbing. This is a damn good gooove.
Through Being Cool features a helluva through bass line from Stillwell and he gets to lead some spacy flights from Eddie and Robert. It’s the most trippy tune on the list. It’s a wee bit like another CTI alum, Deodato.
The Rare Sounds
- Eddie Roberts (Guitar)
- Robert Walter (Organ)
- Zak Najor (Drums/Percussion)
- Chris Stillwell (Bass)
Buy on Bandcamp
