Jay Gaunt

Jay Gaunt began playing blues harmonica just as he turned 12. Inspired by the same blues men who influenced his favorite rock and rollers, Jay began to play along with the music of the Blues Brothers movie. Jay went to see Dan Aykroyd when he was hosting Chick Willis & Dwight Edwards at the Opus Theater in New York (June 2006). Dan called Jay up to sit in on the encore. Soon after, Jay sat in with Sweet Georgia Brown at both the Lenox Lounge in Harlem and in Central Park. It was during these early performances that Jay realized how much he loved to play blues and that he wanted to study blues music and harmonica. Jay’s passion for the blues fuels him to listen to blues music, learn blues history and play blues harmonica – constantly! While Jay’s favorite music is the blues and he feels most comfortable playing it, he is not limited to just one genre. He is also interested in playing jazz, funk, and rock. Jay is influenced most by Chicago legends -- James Cotton, Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Junior Wells, George Harmonica Smith, and Howlin’ Wolf. He is also greatly influenced by modern harp players -- Jason Ricci, Jon Paris, Dennis Gruenling, Kim Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite, Paul Butterfield, Chris Michalek, William Clarke, Mark Hummel, Michael Peloquin and more. Jay met his first harmonica teacher Jon Paris when he sat in with him at Lucille’s Lounge at B.B. King’s Blues Club in Times Square in NYC. He began studying with Jon on both blues harmonica and blues guitar. In addition to weekly lessons with Jon Paris and Dennis Gruenling, Jay has also studied with: David Barrett, Jason Ricci, Chris Michalek, Adam Gussow, Mark Hummel, and Michael Peloquin. Jay has shared the stage with, among others, The James Cotton Blues Band, Jon Paris, Jason Ricci and New Blood, Bob Margolin, Eric McFadden, Mark Hummel, The Hudson River Rats, Michael Powers, Richie Canata, and LD Miller. He has played at such venues as BB King’s in both New York and in Memphis, Terra Blues, Ground Zero Blues Club, Biscuits and Blues, The Cutting Room. He has also played The Greeley Blues Fest (2008), and Blues from the Top, (2008) in Colorado. He will play both Blues Fests again in 2009. In the spring of 2008 Jay recorded Blown Away with producer and musician Ed Ivey in San Francisco. The CD was released on November 23rd, 2008. In addition to studying blues harmonica and guitar, Jay is also learning saxophone and piano. Residing in New Jersey, Jay is an honor student who plays basketball and is VP of his class. “When I first heard Jay Gaunt play I did a few double takes. I couldn't believe these sounds were coming from a 14 year old kid. Jay is the real deal and has what it takes to be the best...and he is well on his way to being just that.” – Eric McFadden "Jay belongs in the very small--select group of young men that I have had the pleasure of working with over the years that are truly gifted musicians that know how to work extremely hard. There's no doubt that when you see Jay perform that you'll not only HEAR the technical skills he has obtained on his instrument but you'll also FEEL the music that's in his heart." – David Barrett