Dennis Gruenling has a channel on YouTube, but he's only uploaded 16 videos in the past four years. He's just uploaded a new one, and it's a doozy.
It's HD, first of all, so it takes a little while to load, even on a fast connection, but it's worth the wait.
Dennis plays as though he knows harp players are listening. He's getting conspicuously great tone out of that HarpKing amp, and he's always trying to twist his notes in slightly different ways. Lotsa Little Walter going on, and that's not surprising, but I'm OK with that; Dennis starts pretty deep in LW territory, but then he opens it up and does different stuff.
What I really like is the moment 2/3rds the way through--actually, around 3:04--when he starts comping. I don't know another player, including Mr. K. Wilson, who can comp that perfectly. I can't. He adjusts his volume down--either by playing more lightly or turning down a volume knob down--and it's all great stuff. You can't teach this stuff. It's all by-feel. Comping on harp doesn't get a lot of press. But it's at least half of what being a professional is about. Dennis has it.
Great video. Dennis is rock solid. But what I really like is:"conspicuously great tone", or "starts pretty deep in LW territory" or "you can't teach this stuff".
Adam, reading your description makes viewing the video much more enjoyable, and productive.
What a Monster!!! Boy I sure didn't have that tone on that 4 10'' HK before I sold it to him! Even more evidenced by his other videos- D's the king of "inventive blues harp" imo. ---------- myspacefacebook
i really like the playing, but disagree with adam. the comps around 3 minutes to me sound like he is playing on top of the vocals. on the other hand, the whole mix is away from vocals so maybe that is the point... still, harp players playing for harp players (a point adam makes) might be about being in front of vocals, but for most people, the words should be higher in the mix. sonny terry was one of the few good enough for playing on top of vocals. for the most part the object should be to make the vocals sound better, which is what much of the satan and adam stuff is about, but it not in evidence here, to my ears.
Nah, I think especially the first 1:30 of this is pure-dee Kim Wilson, specifically the two versions of the song "You're Sweet" on Jimmy Rogers' album Ludella on Antones Records (which everybody oughta have if they don't already)). Which is to say it's KW channelling both LW and BW but not quoting exactly anywhere near as much as many people assume. Which is also to say that if you compare the grooves on Dennis's tune and the Rogers song, Dennis has picked a really good semi-obscure spot to steal from--really good because it's out in plain sight.
Plenty of BW influence as Ev630 notes and until now I'd never realized how organically KW has folded that into his style. I think it was Filisko who first observed that it's easier to give the impression of BW's style because BW had power moves and habits that tend to turn up on many of his recordings, whereas LW seldom repeated himself enough on record to establish a oore style that one can evoke as easily as BW's.
That Ludella CD is a KW masterclass is backing someone up in a purer Chicago vein, as opposed to some good records out there with Clarke and Piazza doing more of a West Coast take on it behind people like Rogers or Smokey Wilson.
I think Rick Estrin has long been as good at accompaniment in this style, but that seldom made it onto records, especially with Little Charlie not singing all those years. Listen to what Rick does behind guitar soloing on "Dump that Chump" or "Smart Like Einstein." I don't think Dennis steps on the vocal much, he's doing great considering how little he watches the vocalist; not surprising since this song is off his Up All Night CD and Dennis ought to be able to make a good guess about the vocal phrasing on this song by now, know where the spaces are likely to come.
Really nice jacket Dennis is wearing, and I'm grateful the venue looks good in HD. Unremarked so far is the presence of a Masco PA head on an extension cab, hidden by Dennis most of the time. I don't see any cord running into the top of the HarpKing, so I wonder if we're hearing the Masco here? Sorry, bigd, at least the HarpKing looks great and all :).
I like that little descending guitar bit around 4:55-5:00, made me smile and I didn't know it from anywhere, though I may not get out often enough :)
@htownfess-if you watch early in the video,you will see Dennis adjusting the controls on the HarpKing. He is definetly not using the Masco. Chris Vitarello is the guitarist,recently touring with Bruce Katz,also a member of Dennis' band Jump Time for a few years. Chris is well respected in the blues and jazz community,earning a Bachelors Degree in music. He is definetly more talenetd than Steve Carrell,and being a close personal friend of Chris,I don't see any resemblance-if you met Chris you would know. P.S.-Chris was not he vocalist on "You Got It" from up all night.
Last Edited by on Nov 19, 2010 5:54 AM
The Guitar player is Dean Shot gave him his first break .. He was in the Deak Harp Band for 2 yrs ....He was 21 when he was in my band .... ---------- Have Harp Will Travel
You've got to admit that Chris and Dean kinda look similar, especially standing next to Dennis playing guitar. From afar the noticable difference is probably just how much gel is in the hair.
"You've got to admit that Chris and Dean kinda look similar, especially standing next to Dennis playing guitar. From afar the noticable difference is probably just how much gel is in the hair."
I'm down here in Florida now-don't know when I will return to NY. I helped Dean set up one of his amps a while back-Dean and Chris are both excellent guitarists,and great people as well!!!
Fabulous clip! I don't either Chris or Dean, but the guitarist has great chops--with axe and vocals. Pulled out 'Ludella' and hear the KW influence that HTownfess mentions and also agree with the superb comping assessment--which backs the guitar and not vocals.
See ya-- www.bushdogblues.blogspot.com RIVER BOTTOM BLUES--Summer 2011/a crime novel for the blues fan.
You aren't the only one, there's at least two of you that I know of:) I don't think mine sounds much like that though, it has crisp note definition and a whole lot less of the lo-fi fuzzy thing going on. Might be the mic, settings, player??
Most people don't know how to properly set up a HarpKing-Dennis and I both use a Boss RV-3 digital delay w/reverb. The HarpKing settings are also affected by mic elements-you need to adjust for crystal,ceramic,controlled magnetic/reluctance. It certainly does have a unique sound,but you can't beat the onboard Kinder effects for feedback,mid-bass cut and UFB.
Last Edited by on Nov 20, 2010 5:33 AM
TMF714 wrote: "Most people don't know how to properly set up a HarpKing" Very true, the Harpking is really quite a flexible amp, it can ring like a bell if you want it to, the tendency is often to dial in too much on the UB & MBC, these give you more sweep on the volume but can take the edge off fidelity if overused.
Technique has a big effect too, going for a big, loose, woofy sound at the mic doesn't always get the best out of the HK.
..can't get over how many great responses on this forum. You guys are a treasure! What a great Dennis vid. Nice clip, thanks. I wonder what exactly Dennis is using for gear? I close my eyes and immediately hear Rod (George 'Harmonica' Smith, then Kim, and ofcourse firstly, (but barely) Walters, to boot. Rods signature is the HK...sweeeeet.