DENNIS GRUENLING OF THE NICK MOSS BAND FEATURING DENNIS GRUENLING PREMIERES VIDEO FOR MAN ON THE MOVE
Harmonica Master Dennis Gruenling
"Gruenling is a contemporary harmonica master…impressive, genuine and fresh-sounding."
—Living Blues
"Gruenling’s harp, along with the Midwestern intensity of Moss’ blues guitar, is pure ecstasy."
—Vintage Guitar
On Monday, July 24, Dennis Gruenling, harmonica wizard from the award-winning, Chicago-based blues group The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling, will premiere his new video for his original, harmonica-driven barn-burner, Man On The Move. The song, written and sung by Gruenling, is a featured track on the band's just-released new album, Get Your Back Into It!. Filmed, edited, directed and produced by Gruenling, the video follows the gifted Gruenling's grueling, gratifying life as a traveling bluesman.
Blues Music Magazine says the band "demonstrates their mastery of high-energy jump blues" on Man On The Move, which features Gruenling's "no-nonsense vocals and boisterous chromatic." According to Gruenling, being on the move is what makes it all worthwhile. "The idea for this song came from so many friends commenting on how I’m always so busy. And while it may look easy with all my animal print clothes and this fun group of guys, we’re always on the move to bring you our music. Won’t you join us as we celebrate our new release this year?"
On the just-released Get Your Back Into It!, Chicago native, guitarist and vocalist Nick Moss and New Jersey born and bred harmonica player and vocalist Dennis Gruenling – together with Rodrigo Mantovani on bass, Taylor Streiff on keyboards and Pierce Downer on drums – deliver a deeply rooted, timeless blue collar blues album. According to Moss, “We are a rare breed as far as how authentic we like to keep the music." That's not a surprise to longtime fans, as Moss proudly represents the city of Chicago as one of the few bluesmen working today to have learned his craft firsthand directly from many of the genre’s original creators.
Get Your Back Into It! was produced by Moss and Mantovani and contains fourteen original songs -- twelve by Moss and two by Gruenling. Guests include saxophonist “Sax” Gordon Beadle and organist “Brother” John Kattke. The album is inspired by the electrifying blues sounds of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and is performed with taste, restraint, sly humor and pure joy. In addition to the expertly crafted lyrics, the album features three wild instrumentals that simply dare you to stay seated.
Moss first made a name for himself playing bass for bluesman Jimmy “Fast Fingers” Dawkins. Dawkins encouraged Nick to unleash his fire and passion. From there, Moss was chosen by Willie “Big Eyes” Smith to join his Legendary Blues Band, but Smith insisted Moss switch to guitar. Blues icon Jimmy Rogers (whose best known songs include Walking By Myself and Ludella) hired Moss as his touring guitarist, mentoring him on the blues lifestyle along the way. Today, Moss’ blistering fretwork, impassioned, soul-charged vocals and memorable original songs place him in a league of his own.
Dennis Gruenling, Moss’ friend of over 20 years, is considered among today’s most innovative and creative blues harmonica players. His high-energy, full-throttle reed work has earned him comparisons to many of the greats, including the late James Cotton. A self-taught player and a natural entertainer with seven solo albums and numerous guest appearances to his credit, Gruenling’s giant, fat-toned harp work, raw-boned singing and untamed energy are a perfect foil for Moss’ inspired guitar playing and straight-from-the-shoulder blues vocals.
