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Mark Kramer
Mark Kramer is a Philadelphia jazz musician born on November 3rd, 1945. Although not widely recognized, he is highly regarded among fellow musicians for his talent and skill on the piano. Critics have compared his style to that of other famous jazz pianists like Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Herbie Hancock, but his unique harmonic vocabulary and pianistic style (as reviewed) set him apart. As of 2023, Mark Kramer's projects tend to intertwine elements of structured and free jazz, combining sparseness and complexity to create emotionally-driven strories /"tunes".
Kramer began his musical training on the violin with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of six, but later shifted his focus to bass, saxophone, and piano in mid- teens. He then played piano regularly with other local jazz legends such as Randy and Mike Brecker, Charles Fambrough, Stanley Clarke, Eric Gravatt, and Sonny Fortune. Many musicians would gather at Kramer's apartment for jam sessions and recordings, creating an unwritten piece of jazz history.
Kramer was likely best known for his early work with the Mark Kramer Trio, which began as an acoustic-electric-fusion group in the late 1970s and later evolved into an acoustic chamber ensemble. The trio performed regularly at clubs and concert halls, winning several awards and commendations. They also backed many guest artists/soloists at Si Ristorante Jazz in Philadelphia, including Junior Cook, Lee Konitz, George Coleman, Johnny Coles, Al Cohn, Lee Konitz and many others.
For 12 years Kramer served as the Jazz Director at Ye Olde Temperance House, a club in Bucks County, PA, where the Mark Kramer Trio was the house band. The group played with approximately 300 acclaimed guest artists mostly from Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York. The club received Philadelphia magazine's Best of Philly Award in 1999.
In the late 1990s, Mark Kramer's trio released a jazz interpretation of EVITA on Telarc International Records. Despite commercial success and critical acclaim for Kramer's sound, reviewers criticized his choice of source material. (In 2009, Kramer admitted to creating the recording as a "jazz farce," hoping the industry would appreciate the art and craft, but he overestimated their response. )
Kramer's place as the then 4th jazz pianist in TELARC's catalog (alongside Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, and McCoy Tyner) likely irked some jazz veterans/ journalists, For example, public radio's PIANO JAZZ (Marian McPartland, R.I.P. 2013), blocked Kramer from appearing, despite petitions from two record labels, and more than a few prominent friends of the show's host. Immediately upon receiving in 2006 a promotional copy of "Art of the Heart", widely acclaimed as a brilliant and intimate impressionistic, at times grooving, duo recording by Kramer and Eddie Gomez, the show's host invited Eddie to appear with her, without Kramer. As Mark tells it with a twinkle, "Eddie's requests for me to appear with him (a BASSIST) on PIANO JAZZ, were met with, 'What can he [Mark] do that I [Marian] cannot." (That particular broadcast after 2013 was been re-titled by the producers as Piano Jazz with Eddie Gomez and Mark Kramer.)
After leaving Ye Olde Temperance House around 2001, Kramer had been featured as a headliner at Zanzibar Blue. He returned to performing mainly in Philadelphia's city proper, often at a local club called Chris' Jazz Cafe. As the house pianist, he worked closely with the club's management and was instrumental in bringing in notable musicians such as George Coleman, Lee Konitz, Lew Tabackin, Randy Brecker, Jeremy Steig, Eddie Gomez and others to play with his trio. In that same year, Chris' Jazz Cafe won the "best Casual Jazz Club in Philadelphia award."
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Mark Kramer: Jazz Greetings
![Read "Jazz Greetings" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/2009/markkramer_jazzgreetings_jk.jpg)
by Victor L. Schermer
It's easy to be jaded by the endless production of Christmas and New Year holiday recordings by jazz artists attempting to cash in on the shopping impulses of this time of year. It's also unfortunate that much of what is produced is simply spruced-up, dispensable noise.
Pianist Mark Kramer's Jazz Greetings" is a rare exception. While Kramer does have a predilection towards popular themes, he is a fine jazz musician, and this album is a tasteful collection of ...
read morePianist Mark Kramer on Nov. 16th in Media (PA) at the Unitarian Universalist Church
![Pianist Mark Kramer on Nov. 16th in Media (PA) at the Unitarian Universalist Church](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/52644011e48af5481bc65e7aed0d07b6.jpg)
Source:
Jim Miller
Appearing at the Jazz Bridge Neighborhood Concerts at Jazz in Media! will be pianist Mark Kramer at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 145 W. Rose Tree Road in Media, PA, on November 16th, 2011. With him will be bassist Gary Mazzaroppi and drummer John Mosemann. One Show: 7:30-9 p.m. $10/$5 students. No advance sales. For info: 610-745-301. Free refreshments and free on-site parking. Kramer's history is unique in a field that is brimming with talented jazz pianists. From simple beginnings, he ...
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Mark Kramer and Joe La Barbera Tour Eight Cities in Italy with Eddie Gomez Trio
![Mark Kramer and Joe La Barbera Tour Eight Cities in Italy with Eddie Gomez Trio](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/9558aafd246e53406fca5f8f8b157057.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
Eddie Gomez (contrabbasso); Mark Kramer (pianoforte); Joe La Barbera (batteria) will be performing at major festivals and concert halls in a tour including 8 cities in Italy in April 2010. The planners of the tour suggested this unusual edition of the Eddie Gomez Trio for performances which they describe as jazz of great beauty, transcending all temporal boundaries."
This pairing of the trio's leader Eddie Gomez (the pivotal virtuoso bassist who is the most recorded and enduring associate of the ...
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Eddie Gomez And Mark Kramer "Art Of The Heart" at Iridium Aug. 24-27
![Eddie Gomez And Mark Kramer "Art Of The Heart" at Iridium Aug. 24-27](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/old/images/large/jeigo2006.jpg)
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121, www.iridiumjazzclub.com
NEW SET TIMES 8:30 & 10:30PM, Fri. & Sat. 3rd Sets AT MIDNIGHT
AUG. 24-27 EDDIE GOMEZ AND MARK KRAMER WITH GENE JACKSON CELEBRATING ART OF THE HEART' CD RELEASE
Recorded on February 14, 2004 at Platinum Seven Studios in Pennsylvania, Art of the Heart features music popularized by Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra and Nat ...
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Eddie Gomez & Mark Kramer's "Art of the Heart" on Art of Life Records
![Eddie Gomez & Mark Kramer's "Art of the Heart" on Art of Life Records](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/bd38a72ed12128b10ddc05c6087dacb8.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
Art of Life Records is proud to announce our latest CD release Eddie Gomez & Mark Kramer's Art of the Heart AL1019-2
Recorded on February 14, 2004 at Platinum Seven Studios in Pennsylvania, Art of the Heart features music popularized by Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole performed and arranged by the legendary bassist Eddie Gomez and the brilliant pianist Mark Kramer. Best known for his work with pianist Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez's performance throughout this ...
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Eddie Gomez & Mark Kramer-"Art of the Heart" CD Art of Life Records AL1019-2
![Eddie Gomez & Mark Kramer-"Art of the Heart" CD Art of Life Records AL1019-2](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/bd38a72ed12128b10ddc05c6087dacb8.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
Eddie Gomez & Mark Kramer: Art of the Heart on Art of Life Records AL1019-2 CD
Now available for ordering via our web site's secure server!!
Recorded on February 14, 2004 at Platinum Seven Studios in Pennsylvania, Art of the Heart features music popularized by Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole performed and arranged by the legendary bassist Eddie Gomez and the brilliant pianist Mark Kramer.
Best known for his work with pianist Bill Evans, Eddie ...
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Eddie Gomez with Mark Kramer introduces 3 Pianists of the Next Generation at the Iridium July 15, 16 and 17
![Eddie Gomez with Mark Kramer introduces 3 Pianists of the Next Generation at the Iridium July 15, 16 and 17](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/bd38a72ed12128b10ddc05c6087dacb8.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
July 15, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] July 15, 16 and 17 Eddie Gomez with Mark Kramer introduces 3 Pianists of the Next Generation at the IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 www.iridiumjazzclub.com 3 Sets on Fri & Sat 8pm, 10:00pm,11:30pm Sun. Sets 8 & 10PM Friday July 15 Set 1 Werner Vana" Gierig – Chris Lightcap (b), Gene Jackson (d), Adriano Santos (Brazilian Percussion) ...
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Eddie Gomez with Mark Kramer introduces 3 Pianists of the Next Generation at the Iridium July 15, 16 and 17
![Eddie Gomez with Mark Kramer introduces 3 Pianists of the Next Generation at the Iridium July 15, 16 and 17](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/bd38a72ed12128b10ddc05c6087dacb8.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
July 7, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] July 15, 16 and 17 Eddie Gomez with Mark Kramer introduces 3 Pianists of the Next Generation at the IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 www.iridiumjazzclub.com 3 Sets on Fri & Sat 8pm, 10:00pm,11:30pm Sun. Sets 8 & 10PM Friday July 15 Set 1 Werner Vana" Gierig – Chris Lightcap (b), Gene Jackson (d), Adriano Santos (Brazilian Percussion) ...
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Eddie Gomez and Mark Kramer: Elegantly Emotional Jazz for July
![Eddie Gomez and Mark Kramer: Elegantly Emotional Jazz for July](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/bd38a72ed12128b10ddc05c6087dacb8.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
Fans may have missed their workshop at the Blue Note in June. But, in July there will be multiple opportunities in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia to sample the sounds (and silence) of master bassist Eddie Gómez with pianist Mark Kramer: an increasingly compelling “phenomenon” on the music/jazz scene today. On the evenings of July 15, 16, 17 Eddie and Mark bring their charged quiet" to the well-appointed Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, New York (1650 Broadway ...
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Eddie Gomez & Mark Kramer Trio "Jazz Fiddler on the Roof" Classic Nightclub Hour at Iridium Oct. 30th
![Eddie Gomez & Mark Kramer Trio "Jazz Fiddler on the Roof" Classic Nightclub Hour at Iridium Oct. 30th](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/bd38a72ed12128b10ddc05c6087dacb8.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
October 30th, 2004
Eddie Gomez & Mark Kramer Trio Eddie Gomez (double bass), Mark Kramer (piano), Lenny White (drums) Celebrates His 60th Birthday Performing Music From their New CD Jazz Fiddler on the Roof (TWINZ Records) Eddie Gomez is a brilliant bassist whose flexibility and quick reflexes make him an ideal accompanist. He grew up in New York and was with the Newport Festival Youth Band during 1959-1961. After studying at Julliard, ...
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From present to past
“Mark Kramer is a jazz piano giant, finally being discovered, moving the modern mainstream of jazz forward, combining his early influences and formidable technique with fresh ideas that form his own individual voice.” Scott Yanow, 2008
“The magical interaction between Mark Kramer and Eddie Gomez cannot be overstated for it is rare to find two individualists thinking as one and always seeming to know where each other is heading. . . [these are intimate and classic conversations.] (Scott Yanow, jazz writer, AMG/other)
Cecil Taylor
pianoJohn Coltrane
saxophoneBill Evans
pianoRed Garland
pianoEddie Gomez
bassHerbie Hancock
pianoGene Harris
pianoAhmad Jamal
pianoWynton Kelly
pianoChucho Valdes
pianoPhotos
Music
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
The Art Of Music
MYTHIC RECORDS | STRAWBERRY MANSION RECORDS available at https://mark-kramer.com/art-of-music
2018