Brian Kramer
Biography
Photo: Chris Rees—Queens Hall Narberth 2005
Brian Kramer from Brooklyn, 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 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.
Based in 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.
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.
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.
Brian has shared the stage and traded licks and recorded with Taj Mahal, Alvin Youngblood Hart,
Bobby Rush, Bernard Allison, Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges, Bob Brozman, 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.
When not on tour, Brian hosts the weekly Saturday Stampen Blues Jam, which he started in 1998. These jam sessions proved to be fertile ground for nurturing Sweden's hottest new young blues talents. Emil Arvidsson, Daniel Kordelius, Chris Shorooi, Anna Christoffersson and many others have developed their craft alongside Brian. The Tavla Foundation for the Arts, awarded Brian a culture prize in recognition of his positive focus within the environment with his music. Brian Also teaches music part time at the International College.
High-res press photos of Brian can be downloaded on the press page
Gear
Brian Kramer plays/records with:
- Resonators:
- Flat tops:
- Arch-tops:
- Pickups:
- Amps:
- Slides:
- Strings:
- Brian Kramer has his name on select Reso-strings perfect for slide & open
tunings
MySpace
Brian Kramer on MySpace.com
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