LEON GRUENBAUM has been a vital force in the New York music scene for over 25 years. After early classical training on piano and woodwinds, Mr. Gruenbaum developed an interest in jazz, funk and avant-garde music. He conceived of the world's first relativistic music keyboard, a patented MIDI controller called the Samchillian Tip Tip Tip Cheeepeeeee. This instrument won a prize at the 2011 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition and is now listed in the 2nd edition of the Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments.
Mr. Gruenbaum has recorded and performed on his instrument internationally with guitarist Vernon Reid (Living Colour), James "Blood" Ulmer and the Burnt Sugar Arkestra. He also plays this keyboard while singing in his projects - "Creative Apocalypse" and "Genes and Machines". Other artists with whom he has performed include Stew, Nana Vasconcelos, Chaka Khan, Beans, M.C.P.S., Micah Gaugh and Aaron Comess's "Air Conditioned Gypsies"