Dylan Cramer

[Saxomatic]

Has anyone heard of his recordings or anything? He sounds great.. He's teaching at my local community center so I get a chance to study with him. :)

[John Doheny]

When I was up in Vancouver recently (on my 'surprise Katrina tour') I went around and sat in with Dylan at that gig he has at the pizza parlor on West Boulevard with Mike Guild and John Nolan.

I've known Dylan since he was, like, 10. His older brother Gary and I were runnin podnuhs. For a while me and another tenor player named Terry Dufour (one of Glen Mcdonald's students) lived next door to Dylan's family at 1166 west sixth. I remember when Dylan brought home a saxophone from his school, Terry (a Selmer MK VI fanatic) laughed because it was "made in Japan." (It was Yamaha's student model.We had no idea in 1973 what a splash that company was about to make). The first tune he played for us was 'Baby Elephant Walk.' (He's gonna kill me when he reads this).

When I mentioned Dylan to pianist Ron Johnson, he smiled and said, "Dylan's a very special person."

At your next lesson, tell Dylan I said 'hey.' And when is he coming to New Orleans to visit?:-)

[Brian Nation]

John, that address can't be right, I don't think. Wasn't it near Burrard? I knew Dylan's dad, Barry Cramer. He was one of the founders of the original Cellar. And if memory serves the Georgia Straight started out in that house. Dan McLeod lived there, too, I think. So long ago, my memory's a bit fuzzy on all that.

I never see Dylan's name anywhere. He has a regular gig? He's never submitted a calendar listing. He must be a true jazz musician!

[John Doheny]

You're thinking of 1776 west 16th. I lived in that house with the Cramers and Dan Macleod and several other people in 1968-69. The Fairview Slopes pad was later, in the early 70s.

Yup, Dylan has a gig every Wednesday at a pizza parlor (can't remember the name) just south of the Kerrisdale Community Center on West Boulevard. At least he did when I was up there last month.

[Allan Johnston]

His older brother Gary and I were runnin podnuhs.

Is/was he a singer/songwriter? If it's the same guy, I used to gig with with him and "The Works" in the early '80's. The Works was a fun little jazz/rock outfit with the Drake brothers (Steven and Adam) and Rick Hopkins on organ, sometimes with Dido on percussion. If it's the same Gary Cramer, he wrote some great songs. If it's not - never mind...

Al

PS: Seasons Greetings to all...

[John Doheny]

You were the bass player on that band?!?! Well ain't that a kick in the head.:)

I remember catching you guys at Rohan's.

Gary was in a serious car accident last year in one of the gulf islands. The bus he was driving was in a head on collision. He's had a number of facial reconstruction surgeries and last I heard he may lose an eye.

[Allan Johnston]

Hey John -

I read in the Straight this week that Gary Cramer passed away. Thought you'd like to know.

http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=17059

Al

[Gregg Simpson]

It is very sad about Gary Cramer, who I knew from when he was very young. He had a wonderful bright energy.

His dad, Barry, was also a friend since we were first introduced by Al Neil. Barry was instrumental in the founding of the original Cellar, but he only joined the Georgia Straight as an editor in 1970. That was the year he allowed me do a 12 page arts supplement for the paper.

For the record, Barry wasn't actually at the original meetings to form the Straight, one of which I attended in May, 1967, the evening of the first Easter Be-In. But this was at a house on Hamilton St. shared by pianist, writer, Rick Kitaeff and poet Peter Hlookof. Dan McLeod was also there of course.

Barry was also the director of Intermedia for a time in the early 70's. Wonderful family, the Cramers. I send them all my condolences.

[John Doheny]

Thanks Greg.

Not too many Cramers left. Gary's mom, Betty, passed in 1993. Barry died in the spring of 71.

I also noticed an error in the Straight blurb. It was actually drummer Adam Drake who played with Gary in the Odds, not Steven Drake. Rick Hopkins played organ. Since he was in the inner circle of Drake brothers cronies in those days, perhaps that is the source of the confusion.

Al, am I getting this right? You were the bass player on that band.

[Allan Johnston]

Thanks Greg.

Not too many Cramers left. Gary's mom, Betty, passed in 1993. Barry died in the spring of 71.

I also noticed an error in the Straight blurb. It was actually drummer Adam Drake who played with Gary in the Odds, not Steven Drake. Rick Hopkins played organ. Since he was in the inner circle of Drake brothers cronies in those days, perhaps that is the source of the confusion.

Al, am I getting this right? You were the bass player on that band.

No. both Drakes were in the WORKS (as was I, Gary and Rick Hopkins), Steven (only) went on to The ODDs, Hopkins was in Colin James' first "break out" band. Adam, I'm not sure...shame, 'cause he's one of the best Jazz-Rock drummers this city has ever seen, a killer at making odd-times sound simple. He was listening to a lot of Stewart Copeland at the time, and had a magical way of bringing Copeland's reggae-influenced simplicity to complex rhythmic structures. I miss that band a lot. If (or when) I have time, I'll drop a few memories this way. The 1983 (I think) Barnes Creek Festival in the Kootnays was particularly memorable...

[John Doheny]

Was Steve playing guitar?

The only time I saw the band was at Rohan's, and it was a four piece. You on bass (although we didn't know each other then) Adam on drums, Rick on organ and Gary on guitar. I remember that particularly because Gary was, by his own admission, not much of a lead player but he still managed to make some interesting statements with block chords and a Morley power wah. Did Steve play lead on another version of the band?

I think Adam is or was the current drummer on the Powder Blues Band.

Brian if you're listening, we should probably move this thread over to Gary's obit.

[Allan Johnston]

Steven played guitar in the Works, but he might have been playing bass when you saw the band at Rohan's, 'cause I don't remember ever playing there...

Al