The Gumbo Gumbas

The Gumbo Gumbas are “A delicious medley of authentic New Orleans Jazz with a side of Creole". They play music that will make you happy and want to jump for joy and get their influences from the city that started it all in American music, New Orleans. The Gumbo Gumbas blend the elements of jazz, zydeco, R&B, funk, and rock into a big old fashioned southern stew.

Band leader Joe Grillo first visited New Orleans in 2013 on a family vacation and fell in love with the city. He found himself going down to the Big Easy almost every year afterwards to take in the city and its festivals. The city has an undeniable groove, and once a person experiences it, it becomes embedded in one’s soul and it’s impossible to get rid of.

The band released their first album “Back to NOLA” in February of 2020. Joe spent the down time during the pandemic writing new material for the group and will be releasing the music as digital singles starting in August of 22. The full album called “Zydeland” was released on Mardi Gras 2023 and is only available at live shows. Digital singles are available on all platforms. Also released is a video spoof on the pandemic called “Nothing To Do” that is available on YouTube

In 2018 Joe met “Big Squeezy” AKA Steve Rice, an accomplished accordion player from Seattle who recently moved to Philadelphia. Steve is a prolific jazz composer with over 300 placements in TV and major Motion Pictures. Steve's original music has been heard on TV shows and in films including “Green Book,” “Passengers,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Handmaid's Tale” and “Sons of Anarchy.” Steve and Joe started writing together and teamed up with other NJ musicians to form the Gumbo Gumbas.

The band is made up of veteran players who have worked with Joe in various musical settings. After performing on several “Reock and Roll Revue” concerts with drummer extraordinaire Steve Schupsky, Joe asked him to join the group. Steve has performed with some of the area’s best bands and has opened for major acts such as Wilson Pickett, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, Kenny Chesney, The Bellamy Brothers, Matt Guitar Murphy, Gate Mouth Brown, The Mavericks and Greg Allman.

David Anthony provided the studio drumming and percussion for all the Gumbo Gumbas recordings from his home studio. He also plays percussion or drums with the band depending on the gig situation. David works with Joe in “Motor City Revue” and plays with many of the top NJ acts. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in classical percussion from Manhattan School of Music in 1989, David began his career touring and recording with Grammy award-winning Tan Dun, composer of the soundtrack for Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon. Dave established himself as a drummer/percussionist, working, recording and performing with a variety of diverse artists, including: Glen Burtnik, Jackie DeShannon, Patty Smyth, John Waite, the B.Q.E Project, the Billy Joel Broadway musical Movin’ Out, Darlene Love, Dennis DeYoung, and many more.

Holding down the electric and acoustic bass chair is Greg Novick. Greg has performed twice for the King of Morocco and has toured in Africa, Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and the United States. His travels have provided him the opportunity to exchange ideas and play with musicians from around the globe. He has also performed and/or recorded with a variety of artists including funk legend Bernie Worrell, percussionist Ray Mantilla, Willy Torres, Glen Burtnik, Alyson Williams (“Just Call My Name”), David Pomeranz, Live Funk Nouveau, Sonny Rhodes, John Davidson, The Main Ingredient, Kaissa, Gino Sitson, talking drum master Kofo the Wonderman, as well as Les Nubians.

Trombonist Lars Wendt and Trumpet man Vinny Borselli have been playing in horn sections with Joe for 30 years. Lars has performed extensively in the tri-state area with artists including Linda Rondstadt, Aaron Neville, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Richie Cole, Michael Feinstein, as well as many notable local artists. He is a tenured trombonist for the Princeton Symphony as well as the Riverside Symphonia for over twenty years and is a founding member of the Princeton Symphonic Brass. Lars spends his daytime hours doing science experiments for Princeton University.

Vinny is a full time music teacher and has appeared with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Johnny Mathis, LaBamba's Big Band, Gary US Bonds, Greg Kihn, The Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra with The Pied Pipers, Sister Sledge, Gloria Gaynor, The Spinners, The Harry James Orchestra, Michael Feinstein, Peter Nero and The Philly Pops, Bobby Rydell, Linda Rondstadt, Olivia Newton-John, The Duprees, Jerry Vale, Wayne Newton, Connie Francis, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, Lou Christie, The Flamingos and is featured on recordings with jazz organist Joey Defrancesco, The Real Deal Big Band, The Dalton Gang, Richie Cole's Alto Madness Orchestra, and Philadelphia's City Rhythm Big Band.

Rounding out the horn section on baritone sax and clarinet is Steph Munter. Stephen has played with the New Jersey-based groups Bob Shoo Bop Revue and Cats on a Smooth Surface and has performed with vocalists Darlene Love, Ben E. King and Tim McLoone and the Shirleys.