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****************************************************************** “…contemporary harmonica master Dennis Gruenling has succeeded in creating a genuine, fresh-sounding album that pays tribute to the Chicago blues harp legend…this is a fantastic and timely album, with honest, quality playing that is sure to make blues harp fans dizzy.”
- LIVING BLUES
“…an immediate classic…This tribute album is sure to bring Dennis Gruenling to the attention of many more Blues enthusiasts, as this enjoyable album is the surprise of the year.”
-BLUESWAX
“…a winner right from the start… Dennis most certainly has the approach and tone down to a ‘t’…these days, tributes are ten a penny and most of them are worth about as much. This is a very welcome exception…”
- BLUES IN BRITAIN
“Dennis Gruenling is the largest new harp talent in the blues world…he’s easily the peer of Musselwhite, Piazza, Hummel, Estrin, Wilson, etc…a harmonica nocturnal visitation that just tears it up.”
- DR. BLUES
“Possibly the best harmonica player on the scene today, New Jersey-based Dennis Gruenling offers a tribute to his hero and one of his main influences, Little Walter....in a world of whiney, redundant, cliché-ridden harmonica players, Gruenling stands head and shoulders above the rest with his uncanny chops and jaw-dropping technical virtuosity…Little Walter has influenced all these musicians immeasurably; all have done him justice and them some, with this remarkable release.”
- DAILY FREEMAN “Even with most capable pals Kim Wilson, Rick Estrin and Steve Guyger sharing the chores, it’s Gruening’s blowing that makes for the standout stuff on this exceptional set. His command of technique and sense of the groove are ideally suited to celebrating the man who took blues harmonica to the next level…the spotlight, however, rarely strays from Gruenling and, with his chops, it’s well deserved.”
- JAZZ & BLUES REPORT “Dennis did a great job of paying homage to Little Walter without being a carbon copy of his playing. He manages to put his own spin on it without straying far from the source. With the help of three of our greatest living harp players, it is an album every harp geek should own. Blues lovers that are not so harp-centric, as I, will also like this one.”
-BLUES SOCIETY OF WESTERN PA “East Coast harmonica wizard, Dennis Gruenling, has turned his attention to a marvelous tribute to Little Walter…they know Walter's music so well, but each brings their own spin to this disc. Little Walter's music lives and sounds contemporary as evidenced by this excellent disc with its focus on less exposed material and superior musicianship and harp playing.”
-IN A BLUE MOOD “Dennis Gruenling is one of the hottest young blues harmonica players on the scene today…Gruenling’s unique horn-like tone is born from the influence of the classic jazz players, as was Walter’s, yet Gruenling is no imitator. He’s created a rich, exciting style all his own that has found him being named “Best Modern Blues Harmonica Player” by Real Blues Magazine for three years running… This is one of the finest all out harp sessions of recent memory”
- ROB'S BLUES “Dennis Gruenling is an outstanding harp player… the instrumental "Hot Shot" serves as Gruenling's master thesis on playing the blues chromatic harp… early contender for the best Blues recording of 2008.”
- CROSSROADS BLUES SOCIETY “…Gruenling’s horn-like tone and swooping riffs reflect the influence of Little Walter’s style…there’s no question Gruenling has the talent, the chops and the experience to do justice to the legendary harp virtuoso’s songbook. Highly recommended.”
- KAREN HANSON/TODAY'S CHICAGO BLUES “Dennis Gruenling has assembled four of the best Harp Players alive today to honor Little Walter…his chromatic harp weaves and leads the lines in a way that would make Walter smile… these guys aren't just going through the motions, all of the cuts recreate that '50's '60's groove, that classic harp sound and the feeling that Little Walter was known for.”
- BIG CITY BLUES MAGAZINE PERFORMING: Dennis Gruenling has been laying down some of the best blues harmonica in the East Coast region for over 15 years now. Along the way, Gruenling has shared the stage with many top names in the blues world, such as Pinetop Perkins, Snooky Pryor, Homesick James, John Mayall, Mick Taylor, BB King, Little Sammy Davis, A.C. Reed, and Jimmy Dawkins, as well as contemporary masters such as Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Kim Wilson, Rusty Zinn, Charlie Musselwhite, Jason Ricci, Mark Hummel and Steve Guyger. Ever since his self-titled debut with his band Jump Time hit the streets in 1999, Dennis has been pulling in countless fans and numerous accolades from critics & musicians around the globe for his swinging, highly original harmonica sound, and top-notch band. Within the context of Jump Time, he pulls from mostly horn influences to get a new sound for the instrument, blending the vocal abilities of the trumpet and trombone with the swinging, fat-bodied sound of the tenor and baritone sax players of the 1940's & 50's era. In 2000, "Up All Night" was released. A non-Jump Time project, which owed much to his roots in stripped down Chicago-style blues, proving he could also play "traditional" blues harmonica with the best of them. This gained more recognition for his talents not only as a harp player, but also as a bandleader and songwriter. The year 2001 saw the second Jump Time release, which includes special guests and the new addition to the band - vocalist Gina Fox. Once again Dennis has pushed the boundaries further for blues harmonica. There are several new projects in the works NOW...stay tuned for details...! TEACHING: Dennis has also been teaching blues harmonica for over 12 years now, and is in demand as a private instructor, or as part of numerous harmonica workshops, conventions and masterclasses, such as: Jon Gindick Harmonica Jam Camp (NJ, CA, GA, MO, FL, TX, OR, MA) David Barrett Harmonica Masterclass (NY, NJ, CA) Euro Blues Week (UK) Guitarrentage-Schorndorf (Germany) The Society for the Preservation & Advancement of the Harmonica Convention (SPAH - MI, MO, OH, CO, WI) Buckeye Harmonica Convention (OH) Joe Filisko's Blues Harmonica Class (The Old Town School of Folk Music - Chicago) Turtle Bay Music School (NY)
RADIO: Four years ago, Dennis started hosting the Thursday afternoon edition of the afternoon blues program Across The Tracks on WFDU - Teaneck, NJ, which streams live online every Thursday from 1:00-3:45 PM EST at www.wfdu.fm Dennis has also been published in Real Blues Magazine ("George 'Harmonica' Smith" 2001) and in the American Harmonica Newsletter ("George 'Harmonica' Smith - West Coast Legend" series and "Amplified Harmonica" series 1997-98). AWARDS: "Best Modern Blues Harmonica Player" - Real Blues Magazine (3 years in a row) "Best Blues Harmonica CD" - Real Blues Magazine (twice) "Outstanding Service Award" SPAH Convention "Top 10 CD" - Makin' Waves Awards (twice) "Best Male Artist"- Makin' Waves Awards
Dennis Gruenling also works with these other acts:
Dave Gross Gina Sicilia Doug Deming Frank Fotusky Dave Malachowski & the Woodstock All-Stars
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