Welcome to the site of
acoustic archtop guitarist Jerry Krahn

NEW! Videos at myspace

Jerry is happy to announce the return appearance of his "Nashville Quintet" to the Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival; Penticton, B.C., Canada. Dates are September 11-13, 2009.

Jerry endorses D'Addario Flat Top strings.
EFT17 Flat Tops 12/2008

The new CD project is available!
Together Again goes back to an intimate guitar "front porch" setting for Jerry, with down-home pickin', country/pop favorites and a few jazz gems. Please use the
ordering page. 8/2008

The "brown one"!

Tell Me I'm Crazy downloads available at DigStation

To get a quick overview of Jerry and his music, please visit Southern Artistry-Jerry Krahn Profile. Audio files are there also; the site has great information on arts activity.

Visit myspace music page to hear tunes and view more pictures.

Catch a video glimpse of Jerry playing the Arch de Lutan with an intro by builder Jim Ellsberry atArch de Lutan Jim also has a nice feature at AcousticGuitar. Click on the Ellsberry photos. 1/02/2008

Check out Jerry's new guitar at www.ellsberryguitars.com



Jerry's Ellsberry Arch de Lutan

The Style
Spirited, lyrical, smoky and jazz-edged guitar sounds are what you will hear from acoustic archtop guitarist Jerry Krahn.  Jerry’s easy pace travels graveled roads and paved highways; open spaces and winding turns; rural swing and downtown cool.  He brings his unique no-amps acoustic guitars to the stage in the styles of early jazz guitar masters Eddie Lang and Django Reinhart. His arrangements of 20’s and 30’s jazz and pop standards are delivered with a flair. Jerry carries these guitars into the 21st century with soulful versions of contemporary jazz, personal compositions and jazz-laced countrypolitan hits combining styles of Joe Pass, Chet Atkins, George Benson and Pat Metheny.  A love and respect for melodies and lyrics evokes a vocal quality in his guitar as heard in singers such as James Taylor, Alison Krauss and Willie Nelson – tunesmith Jimmy Webb.

The informal, living room approach to his performances, along with insights into the tunes and original compositions, leave listeners charmed and renewed, delighted and refreshed after seeing and hearing the vibrant, gentle and personal sounds of the acoustic guitar in the hands of Jerry Krahn.

Visit Jerry Krahn at the Freddie Green website
for more insight into the art of archtop playing.

Hello Guitar Friends,
Years back I was playing a New Orleans style jazz brunch here in Nashville. The clarinet, trombone and guitar trio really needed the distinctive "chunk" of an archtop guitar, other than my trusty flattop produced. As I grabbed a 1946 Epiphone Broadway off the wall at Gruhn guitars, placed it in my lap and strummed a few rhythm chords, I knew instantly I had found a new musical soul mate. Many "chomps" later (along with more Epiphones) that love affair continues to grow.

There is "a thing" the archtops were made to do that no other guitar quite can. The locking into a swinging drummer and acoustic bassist; comping rhythm behind a cornet or clarinet; the warm vibrations of the hand carved wood vibrating in your arms and chest; the f-holes swirling lush tones around your head.

As I began to research and discover the early masters of this style; Eddie Lang, Carl Kress, George Van Eps; big band guitarists Alan Reuss, Al Hendrickson, Monty Lamoure, Steve Jordan and contemporary master Bucky Pizzarelli, I began to understand the grace and intimacy along with the capable sheer power of these hand crafted instruments. Listen to the rhythm guitar in a lush Sinatra recording, or the Les and Larry Elgart (sans piano) big band with a guitar chair often occupied by Barry Gailbrath. If one still needs convincing, drop a Basie record on the turntable. A few measures will reveal that unique niche brought to life by rhythm master Freddie Green.

My first solo CD Garden in the Rain was dedicated to the players, artisans and listeners of the archtop guitar. The second release No Wires Attached carries on with a tip of the hat to more greats including legend Ed "Snoozer" Quinn and jazz performer George Benson. I also hope you hear hints of Django, who surely knew how to harness the power and fire of an acoustic jazz guitar. I enjoy adding contemporary songs and original material, hoping to display the versatility of these wonderful guitars. The quartet and quintet CD Midwest Dreams takes my guitar into the soft and comfortable sounds of smooth jazz and pop; backed by piano, bass, drums and accordion. Tell Me I'm Crazy offers a similar approach, this time traveling a Nashville and L.A. country-pop journey with a jazz sensibility.

I have been fortunate to be a member of the jazz ensemble Titan Hot Seven, on recordings and touring. This group entertains thousands of fans around the country at traditional and "hot jazz" festivals. Here in Nashville I have wonderful opportunities to utilize the archtop in my own quartet/quintet, along with western swing bands The Time Jumpers and Western Swingers. On every Sunday night, the tradition of hot jazz continues in Music City, please see the schedule page.

When in the Nashville area, I encourage you to look me up and we will catch some of the great variety of music we have to offer here. In the meantime, thanks for visiting the site. Please browse the pages for reviews, CDs, photos and contact information.

Jerry