Chris Kramer (musician)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chris Kramer
Chris-Kramer-on-stage web final (2) .jpg
General information
Genre (s) blues
Website www.chris-kramer.de

Christian "Chris" Kramer (* 1970 in Marl ) is a German blues musician . He plays harmonica , guitar and dobro .

life and career

Chris Kramer & Beatbox 'n' Blues (2017)

Kramer learned the first notes on the blues harp from his father. At the age of 18 he began performing as a blues musician, first with the harp, and later as a singer and guitarist. He played in several bands such as "Crazy Chris Kramer and his Groovehands", the "Bluebyrds" or the "PeeWee Bluesgang", but also appeared as a solo artist. He is now regarded throughout Europe as an expert on the harmonica, and has been booked several times by artists for CD recordings and tours, such as B. by Peter Maffay , who hired him for his anniversary tour "Tattoos". Kramer's Harp can also be heard on Maffay's album of the same name. The latest project is the crossover trio "Chris Kramer & Beatbox 'n' Blues", in which the traditional blues in the form of Chris Kramer's singing and harmonica playing on the guitar of Sean Athens ' and the hip-hop " Beatbox " Kevin O. Neals is supported. The group won first place at the German Blues Challenge 2016 in Eutin .

Chris Kramer lives in Schwerte an der Ruhr and works as a musician, lecturer and author.

Books, audio books and musicals

The little harmonica

Kramer has written four harmonica textbooks and one Digderidoo textbook. His decades of experience as a tutor of harmonica workshops led him to the realization that children can also get excited about handmade music if it is only offered in a child-friendly manner. Initially intended as a live project for schools, he developed his story "The Little Harmonica", which was accompanied by music. The live performances in front of students were followed by the recording of an audio book and the staging of a musical. The children's book “The Small Harmonica” was created in collaboration with the illustrator Christoph Heuer .

watch TV

In addition to numerous musical TV appearances, e.g. For example, with Jürgen von der Lippe's “Money or Love”, Chris Kramer is also in demand as a blues expert. The WDR show “Planet Wissen” had Kramer report on the history of the blues in general and his trip to the USA on the trail of the blues in particular.

Awards

Chris Kramer is a three-time winner of the German Blues Awards (2010, 2012, 2014). In 2016 he won the German Blues Challenge (GBC) with his project "Chris Kramer & Beatbox 'n' Blues" .

Books

  • The XB 40
  • Easy Blowin '- The songbook for harmonica
  • Easy Blowin 'Vol. 2
  • Learning blues harp
  • Didgeridoo
  • The little harmonica (children's book)

Discography

  • 1995: Bluebyrds - Born with the Blues
  • 1995: Bluebyrds - Saw The Light
  • 1996: Bluebyrds - Don't Ask Me Who's To Blame
  • 2000: "Crazy" Chris Kramer - Journey (feat. Helge Schneider , Pete York , Collin Hodgkinson, Albie Donnelly , Hakim Ludin and others)
  • 2001: "Crazy" Chris Kramer - & Friends Vol.1 u. a. with Jack Bruce , Pete York , Helge Schneider , Collin Hopkins
  • 2001: Bluebyrds - Live: Made in Germany
  • 2002: "Crazy" Chris Kramer - & Friends Vol.2 u. a. with Günter H. Müller , Hakim Ludin , Slidin 'John
  • 2003: "Crazy" Chris Kramer - & Friends Vol.3 u. a. with Jack Bruce , Helge Schneider , Collin Hodgkinson, Albie Donnelly
  • 2008: Chris Kramer - chorals on the blues harp
  • 2008: Chris Kramer and his Groovehands - Any Kind of Music
  • 2008: "Crazy" Chris Kramer - Come with me
  • 2009: "Crazy" Chris Kramer - On the way (with Mick Taylor, among others)
  • 2010: "Crazy" Chris Kramer - Chicago Blues (with Pinetop Perkins , Willie "Big Eyes" Smith , Bob Stroger, Frank Karkowski; special guests: Mick Taylor and Riley Osborne)
  • 2012: Chris Kramer - Kramer is coming
  • 2013: Chris Kramer - On the way to the sun
  • 2013: Chris Kramer - Chicago Blues ENGLISH VERSION (with Pinetop Perkins , Willie "Big Eyes" Smith , Bob Stroger, Frank Karkowski; Special Guests: Mick Taylor and Riley Osborne)
  • 2013: Chris Kramer - Chris (t) mas
  • 2015: Chris Kramer - The Little Harmonica (music CD + audio book)
  • 2017: Chris Kramer & Beatbox 'n' Blues - On the way to Memphis

DVDs

  • 2008: "Crazy" Chris Kramer - Live and Solo
  • 2015: Chris Kramer - The Little Harmonica (live in Marl)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Kramer, Chris
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kramer, Christian (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German blues musician
DATE OF BIRTH 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH Marl