Giving Up the Ghost

Robert Walter | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Magna Carta
• ASIN: B0000A5A14
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,458 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #72 in Music > Rock > Jam Bands > Funk Jam Bands

Editorial Reviews

From the Artist

"I've always been interested in anything that deals with rhythm and improvisation," says Walter. "Anything that combines is satisfying to me. It doesn't necessarily have to fit into one genre or another. This new record is definitely an attempt to bring in some modern influences."

Product Description

On his new record, "Giving Up the Ghost", Robert Walter has added a new talent to his recording lineup. Known for his work with such jazz/soul/funk giants as Mike Clark of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, legendary James Brown and P-Funk sideman and songwriter, Fred Wesley, and George Porter of the Meters, this time out Walter enlisted another player for his latest album -- the studio. "I collect records. I'm into recordings," says Walter. "From doing home recordings, I started experimenting with different sounds, and I decided I wanted to do something more interesting than just record the band. On this album, I tried using the studio as an instrument. It's involved in the music and an important part of making this record what it is. I move things around, change elements. On some tracks, there's no soloing at all, and all of the solos are downplayed in favor of creating a mood, a sonic texture." Joined by Joe Russo and George Sluppick on drums; Greyboy Allstar Chris Stillwell and Black-Eyed Pea Mike Fratantuno on bass; Will Bernard (of TJ Kirk fame) on guitar; percussionist Chuck Prada, and long-time partner Cochemea Gastelum on alto sax and various woodwinds, Walter explores new territory, incorporating elements of electronic music and dub reggae into his traditional R&B and jazz roots, all powered by the flavor of his vintage Fender Rhodes and Hammond B-3 organ. The result is a new hybrid that's distinctly Robert Walter, which is to say, the sound combines just about every form of music into a driving, syncopated groove that will move fans of jazz, soul, blues, roots rock and, yes, those ever-in-motion jam band dance fanatics.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The pure funk . . ., January 29, 2005

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Giving Up the Ghost (Audio CD)

. . . one is almost tempted to say the "ur-funk."

What if one could produce the essence of funk? What would it sound like? My own view, arrived at through not a little struggle, is that it would sound exactly like Robert Walter's 20th Congress disc, Giving up the Ghost.

When I say "not a little struggle," I'm confessing a ham-handedness toward this music that borders on incomprehensible. Bottom line: I don't generally like funk. It's not the music I would naturally gravitate toward. More than that: It's music I would normally avoid.

Nevertheless, intrepid sampler of varieties of musical soundscapes that I am, I felt obligated to explore funk. Yes, I'd heard Karl Denson, the Greyboy Allstars, and some others. But I'd never seemed to fully connect. And, truth to tell, I didn't initially with this disc either. I bought it, listened to it, disdained it, set it on the shelf, and only came back to it just recently.

And was blown away by it.

Whereas I just couldn't access its pure funkadelic grooves the first several listens, somehow, serendipitously, I COULD when I came back to it. Maybe I had a few too many. Maybe I'd slipped into some maudlin judgment-suspension mode. (Yes, I'd had a few too many.)

But I really don't think that was it. By some near-miracle of suspended suspicion, I'd achieved proper hermeneutic access: I could listen to this marvelous music without prejudice, without preconditioned bias. And I thereby discovered its magnificence.

Make no mistake. Robert Walter is a man who knows his antecedents: Melvin Sparks, Fred Wesley, and Mike Clark. That he has transmuted their collective influence into something uniquely and brilliantly his own proves his worth as the reigning funkmeister.

Ignore at your peril.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Give it up for Robert Walters, November 12, 2003

By 

Karl Kronlage (Woodbridge, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Giving Up the Ghost (Audio CD)

While listen to Robert Walter's latest CD, I have to keep checking to make sure it's him. When listen to "Bygones Be", I think I have my Greyboy All-Stars's CD in (it sounds like Karl Denson playing the flute). "Bet" sounds like it should be on a Soulive CD. "Sacred Church" makes me feel like I'm listening to a gospel group. Occasionally, I felt like I was listen to a Todd Rundren album. Still, all the songs are strong and flow well. My favorite is "Aquafresh". The only songs I don't care for are "Convex + Concave" (I know it's a hard song to play because each hand is doing something different, but I just don't like the effects of the keyboard. It sounds kind of creepy-like something Magazine would play-and Robert Walters is much better than David Formula of Magazine) and "Circle Limit"-because of the keyboard sound. Still, Robert jams on the keyboards. I also struggled to try in figure out whether I was listening to a guitar riff or a keyboard riff on "Dump Truck". All and all, I'm in awe of his sound (he's got a great backing band with Cochemea Gaselum and Chris Stillwell). The only keyboard player that blows Robert Walters away is Jools Holland, but he makes the mistake of trying to sing. If you like Robert Walter's, buy this CD-it might be his best.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Um...Robert?, November 7, 2005

By 

J. Frankel (CT , US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Giving Up the Ghost (Audio CD)

I can't possibly hate on Mr. Walter in these musically depraved times, but uh yeah, Giving Up The Ghost kind of sums it up. The Ghost being the funk that Mr. Walter was helping to keep alive. The 'Giving Up' on keeping it real and organic, in favor of bowing to the Yamaha's eletronic sounds and effects.

Robert's beauty is Rhodes, Clavinet, electric paino etc - stretching out in the studio with a wall of keys in front of him, freaking on each one like a mad scientist. Ain't no need for this dude to synthesize.

This album isn't all bad. The grooves are tight and the rhythm usually has bottom. But I'd definitely recommend starting at the 1st 20th Congress Album or his first ever solo record with Gary Bartz.