Robert Walter to star in fall jazz concert

A new concert at the end of the month will bring to campus keyboards, pianos and all that jazz, courtesy of musician Robert Walter.

The Social Planning and Events Committee's Jazz division is bringing Walter and dummer Eric Kalb to headline the committee's first-annual jazz show on Oct. 25.

SPEC Jazz & Grooves, which already hosts a yearly spring concert, is shying away from the mainstream for its fall concert.

"We just wanted to try something new, and, based on the success of our spring concerts in the past, SPEC was willing to work with us," said College senior and SPEC Jazz co-director Joseph Gross.

And the ground-breaking performers have above-average credentials.

Robert Walter and his primary band, Greyboy Allstars, are credited with reviving the soul-jazz movement. In addition, Walter has recorded with several jazz and funk legends, including Harvey Mason and Gary Bart, and has recorded solo albums and albums with his own band, the 20th Congress.

Versatile drummer Eric Kalb is best known for his old-school rhythm and blues style.

Kalb has performed with the band Deep Banana Blackout and toured with the legendary Allman Brothers Band, backing-up Chuck Berry.

Most recently, Kalb toured with soul singer Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and the Greyboy Allstars alongside Robert Walter.

Walter told Gross he is very excited about bringing his duet to Penn's campus and sharing his music with a new audience.

Unlike the SPEC Jazz spring concerts, which entertain a large crowd in Irvine Auditorium, the Walter and Kalb duo will take place in the Harold Prince Theater, a much smaller locale at the Annenberg Center for Performing Arts.

Gross described the location as "a really intimate venue that only holds about 200 people."

Tickets will be available for Penn students and the greater Philadelphia community at the Annenberg box office soon, tentatively by the end of the week.

Tickets will also be sold on Locust Walk a week prior to the show.

"It will be a really great, intimate show, and just jazz," Gross said.

For more information, visit the SPEC web site at www.specevents.net.

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