ABOUT NIK
Nik Gruber has been an active teacher and performer in the Midwest for the past 23 years. His training is in jazz and composition, but he is equally comfortable in a variety of styles, including funk, blues, rock, and country. While in Fargo, Nik has played with funk jazz duo Big Fun, Blind Joe, The Blues Band, The Bizness, Hot Lunch, Super Heavy and Awkward, Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome, and The Russ Peterson Duo. He has opened for Leon Russell at the Fargo Theater and played at five Fargo Blues Festivals.
Before relocating to Fargo in 2010, Gruber enjoyed a healthy playing career in Iowa City and Athens, OH. He played over 270 gigs in 2006 and 2007 with a variety of groups, most notably the funk/jazz/hip hop sextet New Beat Society. He has had the opportunity to perform with jazz greats such as Joe Lovano, Steve Swallow, Carla Bley, Kenny Wheeler, and Anthony Cox and to open for Karl Denson, Melvin Sparks, and Derek Trucks.
In addition to performing, Nik has also enjoyed teaching a range of subjects. With degrees in both music and anthropology, he has experience in the lesson room and the classroom and is equally comfortable directing a jazz ensemble or delivering a lecture on ethnomusicology. He has taught guitar for the last 23years with as many as 30 students per term. At Ohio University he directed jazz combos whose performances included one concert comprised entirely of pieces from 1959 and another of contemporary jazz works. The contemporary composers included Ben Allison, David Binney, and Larry Goldings. At the University of Iowa he was a founding member of the guitar ensemble and dedicated concerts to the music of Charles Mingus and Bill Frisell. Gruber still enjoys writing for guitar ensemble and founded the Concordia College guitar ensemble in 2013. He has taught jazz history and improvisation, as well as courses on ancient civilizations.
EDUCATION
• Master of Arts, Jazz Studies, University of Iowa, 2006. Studies with John Rapson, Steve Grismore, Anthony Cox, Brent Sandy, and Robert Paredes.
• Bachelor of Arts (cum laude), Anthropology, University of Iowa, 2003.
• Clinics with nationally-known artists including Stefon Harris, Charlie Hunter, Steven Bernstein, David Binney, Ben Allison, Matt Wilson, Larry Goldings, Ron Miles, Corey Christiansen, Wycliffe Gordon, Jamey Aebersold, and Benny Wallace.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
• Concordia College, Adjunct Instructor of Guitar, September 2010-2015.
• Ohio University, Adjunct Professor of Jazz Studies, September 2008-June 2009. Directed small jazz ensembles integrated with improvisation lessons.
• Ohio University Autumn Jazz Workshop, November 11, 2008. Directed rhythm sectionals for six regional high school jazz bands, performed for Jamey Aebersold clinic on improvisation.
• Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA. Guitar Instructor. August 2006-August 2007.
• University of Iowa, Department of Classics. Graduate instructor. Taught courses on Greek literature and ancient sports. August 2005-May 2006
• University of Iowa, Department of Jazz Studies. Graduate instructor. Taught courses in improvisation, jazz history, and directed small jazz ensembles. August 2004-May 2005.
• University of Iowa, All-State High School Jazz Camp, June 2003 and 2004. Taught group guitar, improvisation, and helped instruct large jazz ensembles.
• University of Iowa, Honors Senior Teaching Practicum. Assisted Prof. Glenn Storey in teaching freshman seminar Great Cities: Past and Present. Spring 2003.
• Lidgett Music, Council Bluffs, IA. Guitar Instructor. 1995-August 1999
RECORDINGS
• Bob Domsic, Polutropos, 2008.
• Various artists, Iowa City Yacht Club Live 2007: Coverin’ our a**es, 2008.
• New Beat Society, Bare Essentials, 2007.
• Friends with Benefits, 2006.
• Various artists, Iowa City Yacht Club: Picks 2006.
• Israel Neuman Quartet, Polariscope, 2005.
• Robert Paredes and Standard AIR, 2004.
• The Parchman Blues Band, BBQ Guitar, 1998.
SPECIALTIES
Jazz, blues, funk, improvisation, theory, and composition.
CURRENT ENSEMBLES
Gypsy jazz duo Hot Lunch, dark/alt country duo Cold Pop
PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
• Downtown Fargo’s Gruber Guitars Moves to Larger Digs. Dave Olsen, The Forum, Fargo, ND, April 6, 2018.
• Downtown Fargo guitar shop experiences 'red hot' day of sales after celebrity guitarist pays visit. Ross Torgerson, The Forum, Fargo, ND, August 23, 2017.
• Guitar shop opens in downtown Fargo. Dave Olsen, The Forum, Fargo, ND, September 3, 2015.
• Gypsy Cab Hopes to Give Audience ‘Ride.’ Kelly Kettering, The Post, Athens, OH, November 5, 2008.
• Experimental Band Jazzes Up Stereotypical ‘Old’ Sound. Peter Ricci, The Post, Athens, OH, September 23, 2008.
• Local Guitarist Breaks with Band and Perfects Solo Act, Guitar Skills. Kelly Kettering, The Post, Athens, OH, November 1, 2007.
• New Beat’s New Album. Brigid Marshall, Daily Iowan, March 29, 2007.
• What I’m Into. Deanna Truman-Cook, Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 29, 2007.
• New Beat Still Movin’ ‘Em. Brianna Runyan, Daily Iowan, January 18, 2007.
• One Society with a New Beat. Deanna Truman-Cook, Iowa City Press-Citizen, October 26, 2006.
• A Battle without Casualties. John C. Schlotfelt, Daily Iowan, October 12, 2006.
• New Beat Generation. Zach Spittler, Daily Iowan, June 30, 2006.
Nik Gruber has been an active teacher and performer in the Midwest for the past 23 years. His training is in jazz and composition, but he is equally comfortable in a variety of styles, including funk, blues, rock, and country. While in Fargo, Nik has played with funk jazz duo Big Fun, Blind Joe, The Blues Band, The Bizness, Hot Lunch, Super Heavy and Awkward, Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome, and The Russ Peterson Duo. He has opened for Leon Russell at the Fargo Theater and played at five Fargo Blues Festivals.
Before relocating to Fargo in 2010, Gruber enjoyed a healthy playing career in Iowa City and Athens, OH. He played over 270 gigs in 2006 and 2007 with a variety of groups, most notably the funk/jazz/hip hop sextet New Beat Society. He has had the opportunity to perform with jazz greats such as Joe Lovano, Steve Swallow, Carla Bley, Kenny Wheeler, and Anthony Cox and to open for Karl Denson, Melvin Sparks, and Derek Trucks.
In addition to performing, Nik has also enjoyed teaching a range of subjects. With degrees in both music and anthropology, he has experience in the lesson room and the classroom and is equally comfortable directing a jazz ensemble or delivering a lecture on ethnomusicology. He has taught guitar for the last 23years with as many as 30 students per term. At Ohio University he directed jazz combos whose performances included one concert comprised entirely of pieces from 1959 and another of contemporary jazz works. The contemporary composers included Ben Allison, David Binney, and Larry Goldings. At the University of Iowa he was a founding member of the guitar ensemble and dedicated concerts to the music of Charles Mingus and Bill Frisell. Gruber still enjoys writing for guitar ensemble and founded the Concordia College guitar ensemble in 2013. He has taught jazz history and improvisation, as well as courses on ancient civilizations.
EDUCATION
• Master of Arts, Jazz Studies, University of Iowa, 2006. Studies with John Rapson, Steve Grismore, Anthony Cox, Brent Sandy, and Robert Paredes.
• Bachelor of Arts (cum laude), Anthropology, University of Iowa, 2003.
• Clinics with nationally-known artists including Stefon Harris, Charlie Hunter, Steven Bernstein, David Binney, Ben Allison, Matt Wilson, Larry Goldings, Ron Miles, Corey Christiansen, Wycliffe Gordon, Jamey Aebersold, and Benny Wallace.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
• Concordia College, Adjunct Instructor of Guitar, September 2010-2015.
• Ohio University, Adjunct Professor of Jazz Studies, September 2008-June 2009. Directed small jazz ensembles integrated with improvisation lessons.
• Ohio University Autumn Jazz Workshop, November 11, 2008. Directed rhythm sectionals for six regional high school jazz bands, performed for Jamey Aebersold clinic on improvisation.
• Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA. Guitar Instructor. August 2006-August 2007.
• University of Iowa, Department of Classics. Graduate instructor. Taught courses on Greek literature and ancient sports. August 2005-May 2006
• University of Iowa, Department of Jazz Studies. Graduate instructor. Taught courses in improvisation, jazz history, and directed small jazz ensembles. August 2004-May 2005.
• University of Iowa, All-State High School Jazz Camp, June 2003 and 2004. Taught group guitar, improvisation, and helped instruct large jazz ensembles.
• University of Iowa, Honors Senior Teaching Practicum. Assisted Prof. Glenn Storey in teaching freshman seminar Great Cities: Past and Present. Spring 2003.
• Lidgett Music, Council Bluffs, IA. Guitar Instructor. 1995-August 1999
RECORDINGS
• Bob Domsic, Polutropos, 2008.
• Various artists, Iowa City Yacht Club Live 2007: Coverin’ our a**es, 2008.
• New Beat Society, Bare Essentials, 2007.
• Friends with Benefits, 2006.
• Various artists, Iowa City Yacht Club: Picks 2006.
• Israel Neuman Quartet, Polariscope, 2005.
• Robert Paredes and Standard AIR, 2004.
• The Parchman Blues Band, BBQ Guitar, 1998.
SPECIALTIES
Jazz, blues, funk, improvisation, theory, and composition.
CURRENT ENSEMBLES
Gypsy jazz duo Hot Lunch, dark/alt country duo Cold Pop
PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
• Downtown Fargo’s Gruber Guitars Moves to Larger Digs. Dave Olsen, The Forum, Fargo, ND, April 6, 2018.
• Downtown Fargo guitar shop experiences 'red hot' day of sales after celebrity guitarist pays visit. Ross Torgerson, The Forum, Fargo, ND, August 23, 2017.
• Guitar shop opens in downtown Fargo. Dave Olsen, The Forum, Fargo, ND, September 3, 2015.
• Gypsy Cab Hopes to Give Audience ‘Ride.’ Kelly Kettering, The Post, Athens, OH, November 5, 2008.
• Experimental Band Jazzes Up Stereotypical ‘Old’ Sound. Peter Ricci, The Post, Athens, OH, September 23, 2008.
• Local Guitarist Breaks with Band and Perfects Solo Act, Guitar Skills. Kelly Kettering, The Post, Athens, OH, November 1, 2007.
• New Beat’s New Album. Brigid Marshall, Daily Iowan, March 29, 2007.
• What I’m Into. Deanna Truman-Cook, Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 29, 2007.
• New Beat Still Movin’ ‘Em. Brianna Runyan, Daily Iowan, January 18, 2007.
• One Society with a New Beat. Deanna Truman-Cook, Iowa City Press-Citizen, October 26, 2006.
• A Battle without Casualties. John C. Schlotfelt, Daily Iowan, October 12, 2006.
• New Beat Generation. Zach Spittler, Daily Iowan, June 30, 2006.