
Tell
Me I 'm Crazy is Jerry's fourth and newest release, a follow up
to Midwest Dreams, again a group outing featuring Nashville's
finest. This acoustic recording of spirited melodies and improvisations
is an imaginative and soulful journey traveling graveled roads
and paved highways; open spaces and winding turns; rural swing
and downtown cool. Jerry augments the acoustic piano/bass/drums
setting with Hammond B-3 organ, pedal steel guitar and accordion
on several cuts. The players move Jerry's song selections and
arrangements from LA/Nashville countrypolitan to smoky jazz clubs.
This instrumental album is tied together by the warm tones of the
acoustic archtop guitar, brought to life with Jerry s heartfelt
love for the instrument, rooted in a lyrical approach, blended with
a jazz sensibility.
The musical journey contains fourteen tracks. Country/Pop offerings
are "Lose Again" by Karla Bonoff; Bruce Hornsby's "Mandolin Rain"; "Dreaming My Dreams With You" is a lovely waltz recorded recently
by Allison Krauss as a duet with Dolly Parton. Jerry gives it a 1960's
feel (think of the great instrumentals from Chet Atkins, Boots Randolph
and Floyd Cramer during that time period); three gems from
Jimmy Webb, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, "Wichita Lineman"
and "Easy For You To Say". The latter being a pop hit for Linda
Ronstadt. "Let It Be Me" gets a late night jazz treatment with
hints of Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell/Bobbie Gentry blended in.
The
group swings hard on "Partly Cloudy and Cool" (based on "Cloudy
and Cool" by J.D. Loudermilk); "I Want To Be Happy" and
"Pamelia" (a Krahn penned tune) swing hard; jazz standards include
"Gentle
Rain", "All Soul" and Jerry's sultry Latin piece "Mystery Words"; rounding out the travel is an improvised, accordion laced Spanish
waltz "The Wolf" (El Lobo), and the title track "Tell Me I'm Crazy". A song of lost love, poured out thru Jerry's guitar.
Musicians: Chris Walters-piano, Dennis Crouch and Jim Ferguson-bass,
Danny Coots and Chris Brown-drums, John Hughey and Dan Dugmore pedal
steel guitars, Jeff Taylor-accordion and Kevin Madill-Hammond B-3
organ.
On a production note, the recording was done in analog. That's right,
reel-to-reel tape! Digital editing was not used. The folks at Bayou
Recording saw to it, that the sound was warm, natural, true to the
talents of the musicians and in respect to the great instrumentals
of the 1950's and 60's know as MOR or middle of the road. Thanks to everyone.
"(Crazy)...acoustically rendered on analog (tape) so that you hear every nuance of his magical guitar work as well as those of his premier Nashville back-up musicians. Spin this one at cocktail hour...as these guys cut loose with their spirited improvisations". Brad Fischer Nashville Music Guide June/July 2008
"A skilled veteran guitarist, Jerry Krahn is precise and versatile, presenting crisp, uncluttered arrangements; sometimes reaching across genres to achieve it. He is independent and confident to arrange and take his music to fresh combinations and places." Harvey Barkan on "...Crazy". Just Jazz Guitar November 2007 LA Jazz Scene December 2007
"
I'm betting, as you enjoy this wonderful collaborative effort of
some of the finest "pickers" in Nashville,
you'll discover as I did, that Jerry Krahn is truly a man for all
styles." Joey Miskulin, Grammy award winning performer, writer
and producer. Nashville, TN
"
What a tasty and lovely CD, so well recorded. It deserves to be widely
heard." Michael Pettersen, Historian of Freddie Green; editor
and co-founder of www.freddiegreen.org
"Krahn and friends deliver up a pleasurable mix of standards and songs the guitarist has written. In short, the recording demonstrates why Krahn is regarded as one of the best at his trade - a jazz guitarist who is in total control of his instrument." Cam Miller The American Rag October 2007
"This new album has a great amount of musical diversity. The original tunes by Jerry are wonderful. The choice e of musicians is really strong. Jerry Krahn has been flying under the radar while making his own strong statements with his own musicianship." Parade of Stars e-News August 2007
Midwest Dreams from Nashville guitarist Jerry Krahn features wonderful
musicians in a smooth acoustic jazz/pop/folk setting. All tracks
of course on his warm and rich acoustic archtop guitar, this time
employing a 1943 Epiphone Triumph; carefully resurrected by the fine
luthier work at the Glaser Instruments shop in Nashville, Tennessee.
Midwest Dreams..."is timeless in its romantic genre of jazz,
pop and folk influences." Brad Fischer, Nashville Music Guide
"
This album provides attractive listening that should please both
the enthusiast of swinging acoustic guitar and everyone who just
enjoys lyrical, pretty music. Recording quality is excellent." Harvey
Barkan, L.A. Jazz Scene
Midwest Dreams... "is both traditional in nature and yet contemporary
at the same time. The band never sounds less the great. He takes
influences from the swing, country and jazz traditions, and mixes
them with bossa nova and modern jazz to produce a completely unique
album." Matthew Warnock, Just Jazz Guitar magazine
"
Guitarist Jerry Krahn crafts some contemporary jazz guitar sounds
while remaining loyal to his archtop guitar roots. Backed by key
players, Krahn keeps the tradition of tastefully played guitar alive
on Midwest Dreams." Robert Silverstein, 20th Century Guitar
magazine
" ...the more you listen to the music, the more aware you
are that much of it is contemplative and occasionally reflective
of his
heritage; expressive, tasteful and tuneful. In short he leaves nothing to be
desired."
Cam Miller, The American Rag
"
Superb easy listening jazz guitar instrumentals." www.mwe3.com
"
If we all could connect with our own dreams, traditions and roots
the world might be a softer place. For now we can share Jerry Krahn's
Midwest Dreams for a little taste." Eric Elias, Just Jazz
Guitar magazine
Listeners are always delighted and refreshed seeing and hearing
the vibrant, clean and personal sounds of these “old” guitars
in the hands of Jerry Krahn.
"
A breath of fresh air." WMOT Program Director Greg Lee's description
of Jerry's performance at the 2005 Cookeville, TN. Jazz Festival.
WMOT-MTSU Jazz Radio
"
Guitarist Krahn is a lyrical, swinging player, offering disciplined
yet elegant solos with crisp phrases, dashing harmonies and restrained
yet inventive passages." Nashville Scene.
“
Jerry has shown both the beauty of the instrument and his mastery
of it.” Gary Griffey, allaboutjazz.com
“
Krahn does his thing on vintage Epiphone archtops, and they sound
fine…good sense of time and mood of each piece." Kirk
Albrecht Minor 7th web magazine.
"
The gorgeous tone that resonates from his archtop guitar lends a
sense of eloquence to every performance and no one could ever fault
his taste in his choice of songs" Cam Miller, The American
Rag
“
The (old Epiphone) guitars are in more than capable hands." Vintage
Guitar Magazine
“…
the guitar sound is damn near perfect.” Andy MacKenzie, Just
Jazz Guitar Magazine
“
Tasteful arrangements, timeless melodies, authentic guitars, and
playing that sounds fresh.” Eric Elias, Jazz Guitar
Instructor & Author,
Hartford, CT
“
His fullness of articulation, emulation of influences, and sensitivity
to his instrument’s intricacies will satisfy all true believers.” Charles
Walker, jazzreview.com
Jerry travels across the country playing “hot jazz” with
the successful Titan Hot Seven jazz band. His guitars stay busy
in Nashville, TN. with his own group, studio sessions and as a
featured
performer in shows, jazz and western swing bands including Riders
in the Sky, Western Swingers and The Time Jumpers |