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| Artists Name: Brian Kramer |
| Official Site: www.briankramerblues.com & www.reverbnation.com/briankramerblues |
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Band Members:
Brian Kramer -(Vocals, national slide guitar/acoustic guitar), Mats
Qwarfordt -(Harmonica/vocals/kalymba)
Marcelo Nunez-(Drums/percussion)
Peter Freij -(Bass)
"Iron Hand" Mike Haglund -(Piano)
Chuck Anthony -(elec. guitar)
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| Bio: |
Brian Kramer has shared the stage and traded
licks and recorded with Taj Mahal, Toumani Diabate, Bob Brozman, Alvin
Youngblood Hart, Robben Ford, Geoff Muldaur, Bobby Rush, Bernard Allison,
Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges, John Mayall, Sven Zetterberg,
Michael Barretto, Otis Grand, Jimmy Dawkins and many others; and performed
at international events such as the Cambridge Folk Festival, Bull
Durham Blues Festival, Chicago World Music Festival, Notudden Blues
Festival, Portugal Simply Blues Festival, etc.
A native of Brooklyn, Brian was barely out of his teens when he began
hanging out with legendary blues men, picking up tips and advice from
folks such as Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, whenever they visited his
hometown of NYC. Junior Wells took a particular liking to Brian and
paid careful attention in showing him the right moves and how to play
from the heart.
In 1989, Junior joined Brian on his first record, Brian Kramer and
the Bluesmasters featuring Junior Wells, Win or Lose, with Junior
backing up Brian on almost every track and Brian supporting Junior
on four of his songs. On these sessions were a gathering of the finest,
most respected sidemen in the US, as well as former Rolling Stone,
Mick Taylor.
Throughout much of the 90s, Brian toured and continued to be a fixture
within the New York club scene, performing frequently with the great
Blues man Larry Johnson, until relocating overseas to seek a broader
range of opportunities.
On moving to Sweden, Brian began to be featured on the tracks of several
established artists such as Cyndee Peters, Derrick “Big”
Walker, and others. He produced a number of projects, recording some
of the country’s most unique and talented blues artists. On
becoming an active part of Scandinavia’s club and festival scene,
Brian began appearing often at Club Fasching, the Stockholm Water
Festival and Stockholm’s International Jazz and Blues Festival.
In 1998, Brian joined internationally acclaimed artist Eric Bibb,
performing the next two years on four successful coast-to-coast tours
of the US and Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany,
Scandinavia and Japan. Brian was featured on Eric’s Home To
Me album, his National slide guitar present from the opening notes
of the first track to the final riff of the last cut. Eric’s
father—60’s icon & folk singer Leon Bibb—later
released an album called A Family Affair, featuring Brian’s
slide guitar playing.
That same year, Brian began hosting the weekly Saturday Stampen Blues
Jam. These jam sessions proved to be fertile ground for nurturing
Sweden’s hottest new young blues talents. Emil Arvidsson, Daniel
Kordelius, “Little” Chris Shorooi, Anna Christoffersson
and many others have developed their craft alongside Brian. The Encyclopedia
of the Blues by Edward M. Komara (2008) now lists Brian’s contributions
to the Swedish Blues scene: “One important step in broadening
the interest in blues music was the starting in the late 1990s of
jam sessions at the club Stampen in Stockholm by the American singer
and guitar player Brian Kramer.”
In 2000, Brian released an intimate, all acoustic recording titled
Brian Kramer Trio and Friends, Live at the Folklore Center, which
caught the attention of renowned writer-producer Sam Charters, who
called it “wonderful, spirited music.” The following year
saw the international release by Armadillo Records, UK, of Larry Johnson
featuring Brian Kramer & the Couch Lizards, Two Gun Green.
From 2001 to 2005, Brian began releasing a series of albums in his
own name: No Regrets (Armadillo), Everybody’s Story and I Want
My Illusion (BKB). Each was very well received, with acclaim in both
local and international press. The Tavla Foundation for the Arts,
awarded Brian a culture prize in recognition of his positive focus
within the environment with his music. He also toured throughout the
UK, US, Poland, Thailand and the Netherlands during this time.
In 2007, the S. African Dept. of Culture invited Brian to perform
and conduct workshops at one of the largest cultural festivals in
South Africa. Specifically with Brian in mind, the Aardklop Festival
initiated the “Empowerment through Music” program where
he was able to meet with many young musicians in the local Township
area and share his ideas on how to use music in a positive, value-creating
way. Just prior to this event, Brian had collaborated with the great
World/Blues man, Taj Mahal and local South-African musicians on a
recording—Cross Boundaries—for use on a promotional CD
for the Aardklop Festival.
In 2008, Brian celebrated 10 years of performances at Stampen, commemorating
the anniversary with a newly-recorded album: Brian Kramer & the
Nights of Blu-topia, Live at Club Stampen (BKB/Rootsy 0004)—a
high-quality, multi-track live recording capturing the vibe and essence
of the magic that happens every week with BK & his band, when
he invites you into his home-away-from-home, taking you on a journey
to Blu-topia.
When not on tour, Brian can be seen at the weekly Saturday Stampen
Blues Jam, which he started in 1998. Brian Also teaches music part
time at the International College.
Brian can also be found on twitter, facebook and at www.myspace.com/briankramerblues |
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| Reviewed On: Coming Soon |
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| Interview: Jan 20 Wed at 10:00am in stockholm (Jan 20 8:00Pm Sydney AEST & 4:00am EST) |
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| Podcast: Avaliable |
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| Added: 15/01/2010 |
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