[Cover photo credit to Mark Pagani]
Three major modern Funk and Soul-Jazz artists have teamed up as The Breaks, bringing together guitarist Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), drummer Stanton Moore (Galactic), and organist Robert Walter (The Greyboy Allstars). They have just released their debut, self-titled album.
Rooted in the tradition of late-’60s organ trios and hard-hitting boogaloo, The Breaks focus on tight arrangements and improvisation.
Walter says:
Even though this is a new band, there are years of history between us. These are two of my favorite musicians and two of my closest friends. I’m also a huge fan of both Eddie and Stanton. It’s so easy and fun to play music with these people. It’s like putting on a pair of well broken in comfortable shoes.
Roberts adds:
All three of us have known each other for many years, some 20 to 30 years—this was a band just waiting to happen. In March 2025, while all playing a small festival in Colorado in different bands, we converged in the green room and decided it was time to form a band, and proceeded to book a recording session to kick things off.
The band’s debut album was recorded in October 2025 at Marigny Studios in New Orleans.
Roberts explains:
It seemed an appropriate place to record, as all three of us have lived for at least a few years in New Orleans in the past. You can really hear the influence of the city in the music.
Roberts also shaped the album behind the boards.
He says:
My main producer role is the ‘sound’ of the record. That includes choices on mic placements, snare drum sounds, some arrangement changes, and then the important task of mixing the album to how I want it to feel.
The debut album also features guest horn players Brad Walker (saxophone), John Michael Bradford (trumpet), Big Sam Williams (trombone) who appear on three of the album’s eight tracks and percussionist Pedro Segundo who guests throughout.
The group will perform at High Sierra Music Festival in Grass Valley, California during 4th of July weekend and the Fuji Rock Festival at Naeba Ski Resort performing on July 26th.
