GRÜVOLOGY is

• Bernard Kunz, guitar
• Walter Kemp, III, piano
• Ravi Padmanabha. drums
• James Benders, bass

Grüvology was founded in 2006 by pianist Walter Kemp and guitarist Bernard Kunz. The band has relesased 3 cds, First Set (2008), Unbridled (2010) and Freeway (2015). All of the band's music consists of original compositions influenced by gospel, blues, folk, latin and middle eastern genres and is available on iTunes.

Grüvology and it's individual band members have won numerous awards including "Best Western New York Jazz Fusion Group" in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Walter Kemp was voted best keyboard player for 2012 and 2013. Bassist, James Benders, was named rising star in 2015. Guitarist Bernard Kunz was named one of the areas most adventurous guitarists by Buffalo News Music Critic Jeff Miers (Feb. 2012) and runner-up best jazz guitarist for 2016.

Gruvology hasperformed at most Western New York venues and Jazz Festivals, Queen City Jazz Festival, Lewiston Jazz Festival, Slyfest at the Huron as well as in Erie, PA, New York City and Toronto, Canada.

April 2015 saw the band's first European tour in Germany, Holland, Belgium and Switzerland with concerts at Dortmund's famous Domicil Jazz Club, Splendor in Amsterdam, Centre Culturel Marius Staquet in Mouscron, Belgium, Haberhaus Kultur Klub, Schaffhausen, Switzerland and more.

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Walter Kemp, III- piano, melodica

Blujazz Recording Artist Walter Kemp 3, lead composer and pianist for the Walter Kemp 3oh!, has won widespread critical acclaim for his classic and compelling musical compositions. His work has won numerous awards, including the 2015 awards for “Best Jazz Group.” The 3oh! features RiShon Odel (bassist for GRAMMY-Nominated Najee) and master percussionist David Hulett. The inventive trio’s debut release “Dark Continent” (BJ3440) is sparking interest both nationally and internationally, already having been featured on Toronto Jazz 91.1FM. George W. Harris, of LA Jazz Weekly noted that the album “swings with excitement…Kemp is richly expansive …the whole team is…anything but the expected piano trio.”

The son of a Carnegie Hall classical and gospel composer, Kemp is classically-trained in piano. Also a drummer, he gravitated to jazz, and studied improvisation with B3 ace Bobby Jones, and GRAMMY-award winning pianist George Caldwell. Winning widespread critical acclaim for his own unique and compelling compositions that bravely delve within the realm of the unexpected, he is the winner of Night Life Magazine's 2012, 2013, and 2014 Music Award for "Best Original Keyboard Player,” and boasts collaborative and recording partners Joseph Wooten (Steve Miller Band), Sabu Adeyola of Ahmad Jamal Trio (and protégé to the late Charles Mingus), the legendary Juini Booth, Rey Scott of Sun-Ra's Arkestra, Scott Tixier and Bobby Militello of the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

With his international touring and recording repertoire, Kemp has shared stages with Dave Stryker, The Hot Sardines, Otis Brown, III, Joel Frahm, Luques Curtis, and others, and has collaborated with various musical greats as a highly-sought professional in the progressive music scene. Kemp serves as Artistic Director for the CMC Jazz Fest, celebrating over 100 years of jazz presentation.

Ravi Padmanabha- drums: Ravi is multi-instrumentalist who specializes in percussion. He also leads his own groups including ; My Nada Brahma , Bul-Bul Tarang Gang and Most recently " the Transindental Karmacist" . Ravi has studied tabla with many great masters such as Pandit Sharda Sahai and Pandit Samar Saha. Ravi has performed in duo with Steve Baczkowski for many years. The duo has performed with William Parker, Robert Dick, Paul Flarthey ,Butch Morris, Juini Booth, Cooper Moore, Wilbert de Joode, and Joode, and Jin Hi Kim. Currently Ravi studies with sarangi maestro Pankaj Misra. He has played with Oud masters Tomchess and Brandon Terzic for many years and both Duos have released several cds.

James Benders- double bass, electric bass: James Benders has been studying double bass since the age of 9. Classically trained, Benders gravitated toward jazz, where he found his home. He attended Baldwin Wallace and is currently pursuing a degree in music at Buffalo State College. He has studied both double bass and electric bass, and has garnered much attention for his "fast fingers," and unique slide technique on the instrument. James has performed across the US and Europe, including New York City, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Kentucky, Ohio. He's studied with Paul Zapalowski, once a member of the Dorsey Big Band, and Henry Peyerbrune, a member of the Cleveland Orchestra. He plays jazz, funk, hip hop, R&B, and classical.

Bernard Kunz- guitar, oud: Guitars, oud, loops, compositions. Swiss born Kunz has a range of experiences, showcasing his style, skill and originality. Played Keyboard with Afro-Cuban Combo in Grenoble, France, Jazz Guitar studies with George Barcos at Conservatoire Populaire de Musique, Geneva, Switzerland. French Teacher & Six String Circus guitar group advisor Hutch Tech HS Buffalo. Founding member of Jazz Group Straight Forward, 1994: opening act for Grover Washington Jr., B.B.King, Yellowjackets, Johnny Griffin, James Carter, Joey DeFrancesco, Alex Bugnon, Artpark Jazz Festival etc. Self-titled cd Straight Forward. Mentor to Carmen Intorre, currently drummer with Pat Martino and Eric Biondo, trumpet with Afro-beat Orchestra Antibalas. Seminar with Grammy Award winning ECM recording artist and master improviser David Darling. Performances with bassist William Parker, organ master Gene Ludwig, Pappy Martin Love Supreme. Influences: Miles Davis, David Murray, Jim Hall, John McLaughlin, Dhafer Youssef, Tigran Hamasyan. Currently also with accordion/guitar/bass trio French ConéXion and sax/trumpet/guitar trio trioPAYAZZO.

Jeff Miers in Gusto, Buffalo News, Feb. 3, 2012 writes: ". . . one of the most adventurous guitarists . . . and his 'chops' are of the 'to die for' variety."

http://gruvology.com/