Dennis Gruenling interview part 1

[frogafone]

"When I lose myself in the music, time stops, and that is when it all comes together for me." -(R Sleigh)

that says it all for me Mr. Sleigh, once one has been "there" , ones whole life is spent trying to get back there again and again

[CHOICEJCBB]

As always, nice playing. Though we recorded with you, we never saw you in an interview before, Dennis. Its funny. Hope to see you again, and work with you again soon.

Cheers from CHOICE

Jersey City's Bad Boys of Acappella

[DennisGruenling]

mxm190 - Yes, you're right. You can more easily hear & trace the influence of jump blues in his playing, but that's correct. Walter was likely influenced by anything he heard & liked, he was one of those players that you can tell soaked in a lot, aside from the blues harp tradition before him.

[mxm190]

Im from South Louisiana, not far from where Walter came up. One type of musical infuence of Little Walter that you guys left out is Zydeco. This is a branch of cajun music that was more prevailant in the creole black people of all parts of La. back then. Nowa days its loved and played by both blacks and whites, and is a mixture of blues/cajun/creole/southern swing. Look up Clifton Chanier this was more than likely Little Walters infuence aside from blues and swing that helped mold his style.

[plecplec12]

One of my biggest influences...

I wish he could come down the brazil and perform for us!

I love the way he plays. good vibs also!!

[grimesn]

Great clip. Dennis rocks. What kind of chrom is that?

[rsleighharp]

Thanks!

I believe it was a hohner 270 that had the mouthpiece rebuilt for extra compression.

Richard

[chrismichalek]

Hi Guys,

this was great!!!

[rsleighharp]

Thanks, Man - good to hear from you - R

[diabluz]

cool! thanks for sharing this richard!

[rsleighharp]

Check out "Blues With a Feeling" by Tony Glover, Scott /Dirks and Ward Gaines. Lots of great info on these topics

Walter played all kinds of music, and it is too bad more of this did not get recorded.

I would love to get in a time machine and go back to that era, but we have what we have - some of the most refined equipment and harps yet, plus a world music scene that is vibrant and super creative.

When I lose myself in the music, time stops, and that is when it all comes together for me.

[jasonricci]

Man This was cool! Thanks Richard...I really like your comment here too man. You rule.

J

[HarpDogAustralia]

Excellent. Thanks to both of you. Just speculating on the development of Sonny Boy 1's style vs, Little Walter - Walter would have been exposed to more musicians perhaps, once he began recording.

I bet his interaction with session players and stage musicians etc could have influenced his style and direction at the time. What an exciting era for the development of American music. I wonder if modern influences on harp players could ever compare with that era?