Welcome to the site of
acoustic archtop guitarist
Jerry Krahn

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

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.

Learn more about Jerry's music and guitars in
"The Style" and "Hello Guitar Friends" to the right.
Please browse the site for photos

NEWS

Just released! Nicki Parrott & Her Jazz Pirates recorded live at The Arizona Classic Jazz Festival. A fun, swinging album with stellar players. Jerry is featured with his acoustic archtop guitar. Feb. 2008

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
Swinging, intimate, rural, and sophisticated guitar sounds are what you will hear from acoustic archtop guitarist Jerry Krahn. Jerry brings his no-amps acoustic archtops to the stage and studio 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 inspired and fresh sounding. Jerry carries these guitars into the 21st century with soulful versions of contemporary jazz, folk and personal compositions combining styles of Joe Pass, Chet Atkins, Pat Metheny and George Benson.

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. Newly released 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.

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

Jerry