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| Carlo Krahmer - the musician... |
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Carlo Krahmer was born in Shoreditch, London in 1914 and from an early age was 'drum crazy' spending his pocket money on drums and records and he was gigging at thirteen years of age. By 1938 he was playing with Claude Bampton's Orchestra, sponsored by The National Institute for the Blind, at the Cambridge Theatre on the same bill as Quintette of the Hot Club of France. He was active in the recording studios from this time:In 1940 he led a quartet at the Cotton Club in London before joining Johnny Claes in 1941 for nearly two years. He then worked with many bands including Lew Stone (1941) but also ran his own groups at a number of London clubs. By 1943 he was playing in various small groups all over London including running the band at the Feldman Club from 1943 until 1950. From 1944 he also led the band at the Nuthouse Club in Regent Street. Krahmer gave up full time playing in 1947 when, with Peter Newbrook, he founded the Esquire record company, but he played on some of the first British bebop records with Ronnie Scott in 1948. He died in 1976. Carlo Krahmer and Esquire records... Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer's Windy City Six - May, 1938 (Lincon Rhythm Style) Reg Arnold (tp), Dave Simmonds (cl,ts), Bert Howard (p), Vic Lewis (g), Joe Muslin (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Sally/Pardon Me Pretty Baby/Lonesome And Sorry/Lincon Breakdown. Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer's Blue Six - June, 1938 (Lincon Rhythm Style) Jerry Kane (cl), Harry McCombe (vln), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis (g), Alf Hickman (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Jada/In De Ruff. Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer's Blue Seven - June, 1938 (Lincon Rhythm Style) Jerry Kane (cl,bs), Harry McCombe (vln), Carlo Krahmer (vib), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis, Joe Dalton (g), Joe Muslin (b), Joe Kay (d). Girl Of My Dreams/Saturday Night Function/Vicology/ Daphne/ Feeling My Way. Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer Band - June 30th, 1938 (Lincon Rhythm Style) Leslie 'Jiver' Hutchinson (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Bertie King (cl,as), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis (g), Joe Muslin (b), Carlo Krahmer (d,vib). I Aint Got Nobody*/Shine On Harvest Moon*#/Angry*/Stooge Blues*#. (*Candid CD - Vic Lewis 'The Golden Years' 1938,1945 and 1946) (#Retrospective CD - George Chisholm The Gentleman of Jazz - A Centenary Tribute) Vic Lewis Jersey Jumpers - September 22nd, 1938 (Lincon) Bert Wade (tp), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis (g), Carlo Krahmer (d). Don't Be That Way/Why Do I Love You. Vic Lewis Chicago Stompers - September 24th, 1938 (Lincon) Al Baum (ts), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis (g), Carlo Krahmer (d). At The Jazz Band Ball/Black Eyes. Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer Band - January 10th, 1939 (Days Rhythm Style) Reg Arnold (tp), Jack Adare (cl,ts), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis (g), Carlo Krahmer (d). Mighty Like the Blues/Muskrat Ramble/There'll Come a Time/Jazz Me Blues/Sobbin' Blues/Boogie Woogie Blues. Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer Stompers - April 3rd, 1939 (Days Rhythm Style) Johnny Claes (cnt), Dereck Neville (cl,ts), Reggie Dare (ts), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis (g), Wilky Davis (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Exactly Like You/Runnin' Wild Blues/I Never Knew/7th Avenue At 51st. Street. Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - April, 1939 (Days Rhythm Style) Reg Arnold (cnt), Jack Adare (cl), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis (g), Carlo Krahmer (d). King Porter Stomp/Sugarfoot Stomp/Tiger Jazz/I'll See You In My Dreams. Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - June 3rd, 1939 (G.S. Rhythm Style) Reg Arnold (cnt), Jack Adare (cl), Bert Howard (p), Vic Lewis (g), Carlo Krahmer (d). Copenhagen/Original Dixie One Step/Baby Blues. Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - July 18th, 1939 (G.S. Rhythm Style) Archie Craig (tp), Ken Oldham (ts), Cliff Townshend (cl), Abe Walters (p,tb-1), Vic Lewis (g,p-1), Sid Gross (g), Jack Morgan (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). I'm Coming Virginia/I've Found A New Baby(1). Vic Lewis and Carlo Krahmer's Boys - February 13th, 1940 (HMV) Leo Wright (tp), Johnny Williams (as), George Shearing (p), Vic Lewis (g), Unknown (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Love Is Just Around the Corner (unissued). Nat Gonella presents Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons - July 12th, 1941 (Columbia) Johnny Claes, Nat Gonella (tp), Harry Hayes, George Harrison (as), Aubrey Frank, Gerry Alvarez (ts), Tommy Pollard (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Benny Lee (vocal). How Am I To Know (vocal BL)/Stompin' At The Savoy. Johnny Claes and his Clay Pigeons - October 18th, 1941 (Columbia) Johnny Claes, Nat Gonella (tp), Harry Hayes, Gerry Alvarez (as), Reg Owen, Aubrey Frank (ts), Norman Stenfalt (p), Joe Deniz (g), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Benny Lee (vocal), Irene King (vocal). I Heard (vocal BL)*/Do I Worry? (vocal BL & IK)/Fascinating Rhythm (vocal IK)/My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean (vocal IK, Gonella out). (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) Johnny Claes and his Clae Pigeons - January 15th, 1942 (Columbia) Johnny Claes (tp), Harry Hayes, Gerry Alvarez (as), Andy McDevitt (cl,ts), Aubrey Frank (ts), Norman Stenfalt (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Charlie Short (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Benny Lee (vocal), Irene King (vocal). Chattanooga Choo-choo (vocal BL)/Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen (vocal BL)/Watch The Birdie (vocal IK)/The Whistler's Mother-In-Law (vocal BL). Josephine Bradley and her Jive Orchestra - November, 1943 (Decca) Josephine Bradley (vcl) acc by Chick Smith, Kenny Baker, Les Lambert (tp), Jock Bain, George Flynn (tb), Nat Temple (cl,as), Bill Apps (as), Aubrey Frank, George Harris (ts), Pat Dodd (p), Ivor Mairants (g), Tommy Bromley (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Take The "A" Train/Rockin' The Blues/Kansas City Moods/Torpedo Junction. George Shearing Sextet - February 14th, 1944 (Decca) Kenny Baker (tp), Harry Hayes (as), Aubrey Frank (ts), George Shearing (p), Tommy Bromley (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Cymbal Simon*/Riff Up Them Stairs*/Five Flat Flurry*^/Trunk Call*. (*Hep Records CD - Kenny Baker, Birth of a Legend '41-'46) (^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Jazz in Britain 1919 - 1950) (*JSP 5CD set - George Shearing - The Early Years) In 1945 Krahmer began to record bands under his own name name with some surprising names turning up... Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - March 12th, 1945 (Esquire) Johnny Best (tp), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Stephane Grappelly (vln,p), Vic Lewis (g), Tommy Bromley (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). I've Found A New Baby/I Never Knew. (Both titles unissued until the 1980s - Carlo Krahmer memorial album ESQ306) Vic Lewis and Sam Donahue's Navy Band - March 12th, 1945 (A.E.F. broadcast) Kenny Baker, Arthur Mouncey, Johnny Best (tp), Lad Busby, Woolf Phillips, Tak Takvorian (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as,sop) Derek Hawkins (as,cl), Ralph LaPolla (cl), Aubrey Frank, Sam Donahue (ts), Pat Dodd, Rocky Coluccio (p), Vic Lewis, Lauderic Caton (g), Joe Nussbaum (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Yellow Dog Blues*. Vic Lewis and Lauderic Caton (g). Blues In E*. (*Candid CD - Vic Lewis 'The Golden Years' 1938,1945 and 1946) Vic Lewis Jam Session - March 12th, 1945 (Harlequin/Esquire) Johnny Best (tp), Derek Hawkins (cl,as), Ronnie Chamberlain (as,sop), Stephan Grapelly (vln,p(1)), Vic Lewis (g), Tommy Bromley (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). I'ts The Talk Of The Town*/I Never Knew*/I Found A New Baby*/Tri-colour blues(1)*. (*Candid CD - Vic Lewis 'The Golden Years' 1938,1945 and 1946) Vic Lewis Jam Session - March 15th, 1945 (Harlequin/Esquire#) Johnny Best (tp), Aubrey Frank (ts), Vic Lewis (g), Bert Howard (b). Johnny's Blues*. Johnny Best (tp), Lad Busby (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain (cl), Aubrey Frank (ts), Gerry Moore (p), Vic Lewis (g), Bert Howard (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Mean To Me*/#Down By The Old Mill Stream*/#Rosetta*. (*Candid CD - Vic Lewis 'The Golden Years' 1938,1945 and 1946) Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - March 15th, 1945 (Esquire) Johnny Best (tp), Lad Busby (tb), Ronnie Chamberlain (cl,as), Aubrey Frank (ts) Gerry Moore (p), Vic Lewis (g), Tommy Bromley (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Down By The Old Mill Stream/Rosetta. (Both titles unissued until 1977 - Carlo Krahmer memorial album ESQ306) Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - March, 1945 (Esquire) Don Jacoby (tp), Harry Roche (tb), Derek Hawkins (cl), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Sam Donahue (ts), Rocky Collucio (p), Vic Lewis (g), Bert Howard (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). S.D. Blues. (Unissued until 1977 - Carlo Krahmer memorial album ESQ306) Carlo Krahmer and his Nuthouse Club Band - May 18th, 1945 (Parlophone) Jimmie Edwards (cnt), Mannie Price (cl,as), Ronnie Chamberlain (as), Ernie Mansfield (ts), Gerry Moore (p), Alan Hodgkins (g), Bert Howard (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Lullaby In Rhythm/Blue Lou/Jazz Me Blues/Muskrat Ramble. A live recording from the No 1 Rhythm Club (Feldmans) issued on a series of 78rpm records... Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - January 11th, 1946 (Esquire) Humphrey Lyttelton (tp), Bobby Mickleburgh (tb), Wally Fawkes (cl), Ernie Mansfield (ts), Dill Jones (p), Bill Bramwell (g), Bert Howard (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). When The Saints/Fidgety Street/That Da-Da Strain/Royal Garden Blues/Bugle Call Rag/Humph Meets Trog/Sugar/Who's Sorry Now/Climax Stomp (parts 1 and 2>. (Other titles unissued) Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - December 14th, 1946 (Esquire) Johnny Dankworth (cl), Dick Katz (p), Carlo Krahmer (vib), Alan Hodgkins (g), Coleridge Goode (b). Coquette. (Unissued until 1977 - Carlo Krahmer memorial album ESQ306) A live recording from a concert at the Birmingham Town Hall issued on a series of 78rpm records... Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - January 11th, 1946 (Esquire) Various groups played at this concert. Collective personnel: Humphrey Lyttelton (tp), Bobby Mickleburgh (tb), Wally Fawkes (cl), Ernie Mansfield (ts), Dill Jones, Gerry Moore (p), Bill Bramwell (g), Bert Howard (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Titles not listed, many were not issued. The Esquire Five - January 13th, 1948 (Esquire) Ronnie Scott (ts), Pete Chilver (g), Ralph Sharon (p), Jack Fallon (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). Lady Be Good*^/Boppin' At Esquire*^/Idabop^/What Is This Thing Called Love^. (^Indigo CD - Boppin' At Esquire) (*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott) (^Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) (^Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") Jazz At The Town Hall Ensemble - March 30th, 1948 (Esquire) collective personnel:Ronnie Scott (ts), Johnny Dankworth (as), Reg Arnold (tp), Dennis Rose (p,tp), Jimmy Skidmore (ts), Bernie Fenton (p), Joe Muddel (b), Jack Fallon (b), Carlo Krahmer (d), Cab Kaye (vcl). Buzzy*^/How High The Moon*^/If You'se A Viper (vcl CK)/Thats My Desire (vcl CK).(other titles made at this session were never issued.) (^Indigo CD - Boppin' At Esquire) (*Giant Steps Records CD - Great Scott) (*Charly/Esquire 4 CD box set - bebop IN BRITAIN - issued in 1991 currently only available second hand...) (*Proper Records 4CD Box set - Ronnie Scott "Boppin' With Scott") Carlo Krahmer Chicagoans - May 30th, 1949 (Esquire) Jimmy McPartland (cnt,vcl), Cy Ellis (tp), Harry Brown (tb), Pip Gaskell (cl), Ernie Mansfield (ts), Marian McPartland (p), Alan Hodgkins (g), Eddie King (b), Carlo Krahmer (d). That Da-Da Strain/Blues In Thirds/Sugar/St. Louis Blues/China Boy/Blues For Carlo. (All titles unissued until 1977 - Carlo Krahmer memorial album ESQ306) |