Dennis
Gruenling has been laying down some of the best blues harmonica in the
East Coast region for over a dozen years now. After spending some time
in New Orleans in 1992-3, Dennis came back home to New Jersey and quickly
gained a reputation as a rising star on the local blues scene. A few stints
with some local bands followed (The Fins and Filthy Rich & the Poor
Boys among others) and finally to 1998 when he formed the first incarnation
of Jump Time.
Along the way, Gruenling has shared the stage with many top names in the
blues world, such as Pinetop Perkins, Snooky Pryor, Homesick James, Hubert
Sumlin, John Mayall, 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
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 across the country 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.