Chris Kramer - Komm mit (Remaster) (2021)

Chris Kramer is a German blues musician, talented harmonica player and singer / songwriter from Dortmund. The trademark of the four-time “German Blues Award” winner (category “Blues Harp” 2010, 2012, 2014) is his skillful harp playing, but he also uses guitar and dobro on stage. Kramer's long-playing record “Chicago Blues” was also awarded the “German Blues Award” in 2014 as “best album”.

Chris Kramer, born in 1970, learned the first notes on the harmonica from his father, which laid the foundation for his later career as a professional musician. He played in various bands, but was also always active as a solo artist. Nowadays he is considered to be one of the most important blues harp players in Europe, who is now also valued by his role models at the time - e. For example, joint recordings were made with Pinetop Perkins and Wille “Big Eyes” Smith, both members of the “Muddy Waters Band”. In general, the list of musicians with whom Chris Kramer has recorded reads like the “who-is-who” of rock history; Long John Baldry, Bob Stroger, Jack Bruce, Mel Gaynor from "Simple Minds", Colin Hodgkinson, Pete York and many more. Kramer succeeded in bringing Mick Taylor and Chuck Leavell into the recording studio together for the first time, who belonged to the "Rolling Stones" at different times, and united them on his 2009 album "Unterwegs". Pianist Chuck Leavell said of him: “Oh man, what an amazing harp player!” And Pete York, the bass player of “Cream”, called him “Master of the blues harp”. Chris Kramer was also booked by Peter Maffay for CD recordings and several stadium tours.

Since promoting young talent is also a matter close to his heart, Chris wrote four harmonica textbooks, and as a harp teacher he also gives workshops nationwide. As a new project to make handmade music more popular, he developed the children's and family musical “The Little Harmonica” to arouse children's interest in the blues and the musical styles that follow it. The story of the “Little Harmonica” has also been published as an audio book and an 86-page picture book and skilfully not only conveys knowledge about music, but also about tolerance, respect and human interaction.

As an expert in blues music, Chris Kramer is also often invited by TV stations, such as B. for a complete one-hour broadcast of the WDR from the series "Planet Wissen", in which Kramer reported on the blues in general and his trip to America in search of the roots of the blues in particular.

Chris Kramer's latest project to bring the blues closer to younger generations is a “crossover” trio called “Beatbox’ n ’Blues”. With a “beatbox” borrowed from hip hop instead of drums, voiced by the German beatbox master Kevin O Neal, Kramer created a fresh new sound, complemented by his harmonica and the guitar of the young string artist Sean Athens. The band's dedication and innovation of the idea was recognized by winning the "Geman Blues Challenge 2016" in Eutin (Ostholstein), which gave the trio the right to participate in the "International Blues Challenge 2017" on the famous Beale Steeet in Memphis for Germany / Tennessee, USA.