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Franklin Kiermyer

Drummer/composer Franklin Kiermyer first came to prominence following the release of Solomon's Daughter, his highly acclaimed third album that features John Coltrane alumnus Pharoah Sanders on saxophone. Widely regarded for his intense passionate energy, spiritual feeling and distinctive sound, his nine albums and many performances have brought his music international recognition.

His latest album: FURTHER (Mobility Music MM20130), co-produced by him & Michael Cuscuna, features his present quartet of Azar Lawrence - saxophone, Benito Gonzalez - piano + Juini Booth - bass.

Franklin was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. His grandfather, a great Charleston and Jitterbug dancer well known on the local scene, gave him his first drum when he was 8 years old. His father loved New Orleans and Swing music, especially Big Bands. Franklin spent many hours listening to these records, from Kid Ory and Fats Waller to Count Basie and Duke Ellington. He was especially drawn to drummers with a big round beat like Sid Catlett, Baby Dodds, Minor Hall and Gene Krupa. He was also moved by the passionate chanting during Saturday morning services in his local Synagogue.

His professional career started at supper clubs and private parties with his high school music teacher. During this period, Franklin was introduced to both Vajrayana Buddhist meditation and the music of the John Coltrane Quartet of the mid-sixties. These inspirations had an immediate and profound impact that would intensify over the years.

Montreal of the 70’s was an important part of the East-Coast Jazz scene, so Franklin had many opportunities to hear and watch legends like Dexter Gordon, Charles Mingus, Philly Joe Jones, Count Basie, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington, Elvin Jones and many others.

Sitting in at prominent jazz venues including Rockhead's Paradise and playing frequently with local legends like Billy Robinson and Ivan Symonds nurtured his experience. Nonetheless, jazz gigs were scarce, so after leaving music college at eighteen, Kiermyer started to take road trips with U.S. Rhythm & Blues bands. Most of the next few years were spent traveling up and down the East Coast with a few sojourns west and south and off to Europe. All the while, every available moment was spent developing his playing and writing.

In his mid-twenties, Franklin began to bring together the best players he could to perform and record his own music. At age 26, he moved to New York City, where he was based for most of the next twenty years. As his music evolved, he had increasing opportunities to connect with his audience through performances and recordings. Although many experiences were rewarding, he knew he hadn’t yet manifested what he was truly meant to do. Overcoming what was holding it back became the path. Naturally, he began to spend more of his time meditating. By his late thirties, Kiermyer was spending increasingly longer periods on spiritual retreat, mainly in India and Nepal.

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Radio & Podcasts

Franklin Kiermyer, Fats Waller & Jimmy Cobb

Read "Franklin Kiermyer, Fats Waller & Jimmy Cobb" reviewed by Joe Dimino


The 690th Episode of Neon Jazz begins with power drummer Franklin Kiermyer. From there, we examine the music and voices of a host of musicians surviving the COVID world without live music. This includes Guy Mintus, Amber Underwood, the 3D Jazz Trio and Jeff Coffin. Finally, we say good-bye to huge figure in Kansas City jazz in Bill Crain. Enjoy the music. Playlist Franklin Kiermyer “Unified Space Time" Closer to the Sun (Mobility Music) 00:00 Host talks 5:47 ...

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Festivals Talking

Moers Festival Interviews: Scatter The Atoms That Remain

Read "Moers Festival Interviews: Scatter The Atoms That Remain" reviewed by Martin Longley


Scatter The Atoms That Remain are set to be quite possibly the most jazzed combo at this year's Moers Festival, in Germany, but this simply illustrates the high degree of unfaithfulness displayed by many of its attending artists towards the jazz tradition. There are a mass of Moersfest acts who possess some sort of jazz-rootedness, but many of them also have other fingers deep inside rock, electronic, global-ethnic, hip-hop, or moderne composition. Not that Moers calls itself a jazz festival ...

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Album Review

Franklin Kiermyer: Closer To The Sun

Read "Closer To The Sun" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Most of drummer Franklyn Kiermyer's records have a strong spiritual aura but none as intensely so as the deeply introspective Closer to the Sun. For this sublime session Kiermyer draws inspiration from saxophonist John Coltrane's Impulse years. This is not, however, a mere tribute through reinterpretation of the great artist's work as Kiermyer has a unique style that is deferential to but never derivative of those who have influenced him. Kiermyer often utilizes repeating motifs and melodic fragments ...

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Album Review

Franklin Kiermyer: Closer To The Sun

Read "Closer To The Sun" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Sooner or later every human being has to come to terms with their inner self. Quite often it is later, on one's deathbed, that one's life is questioned. Those who do live an examined life while young (and healthy) often choose to live a more challenging life. Same for musicians, but their challenge is often the music of John Coltrane. His music is a perfect model because, especially in his later years, it was intertwined with his inner journey.

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Album Review

Franklin Kiermyer: Further

Read "Further" reviewed by Dave Wayne


The great dilemma facing a music reviewer is how to discuss an artist's work intelligently within an historical continuum without getting too hung up on musical influences and reference points. Such is the case with drummer / composer Franklin Kiermyer whose music, while totally original, is redolent with the intensity and seeking spirituality of the John Coltrane Quartet. Describing this music as Coltrane-influenced simply doesn't do it justice. What the Canadian drummer and his quartet are doing here is unique, ...

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Album Review

Franklin Kiermyer: Further

Read "Further" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Expat Canadian drummer Franklin Kiermyer's sublime and passionate Further is a cohesive work that is both transcendent and crackles with a visceral vitality. The album revolves around themes that are inspired by saxophonist John Coltrane's late career explorations but the Oslo-based Kiermyer and his band are not mere impersonating devotees. They imbue every tune with originality and a brilliant and imaginative urgency. The centerpiece of the recording is “Between Joy & Consequence," with its two takes. Pianist Benito ...

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Interview

Franklin Kiermyer: Joy And Consequence

Read "Franklin Kiermyer: Joy And Consequence" reviewed by Ian Patterson


The tradition. It's common jazz terminology. What does it mean, though, to be “in the tradition"? The term usually confers on the musician a stamp of authenticity and infers working knowledge of the dominant idiom, as typified by the jazz cannon. It also perhaps implies a certain orthodoxy. It's strange to think, however, that a music that has always celebrated the innovative and reified its trailblazers, places so much emphasis upon allegiance to the tradition. For drummer Franklin ...

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A few selected quotes about Franklin:

“Drummer Franklin Kiermyer is that rare jazzman, blessed with the ecstatic quality of his free-bop attack.” - ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE

“Kiermyer sounds like Elvin Jones and Rashied Ali wrapped up into a furious, thunderous package; he must be one of the most exciting and intense drummers around.” - THE WIRE

“Kiermyer plays (and composes) with an almost evangelical belief in jazz as a form of pure inspiration.” - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“Kiermyer plays with volcanic authority.” - DOWN BEAT

“A journey to heights of spiritual experience through music... captures that mystical ecstasy with magnificent aplomb” - JAZZIZ

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Closer To The Sun

Mobility Music
2017

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Closer To The Sun

Mobility Music
2016

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Further

Mobility Music
2014

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Franklin Kiermyer:...

Mobility Music
2014

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Sanctification

Sunship Records
2000

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Auspicious Blazing Sun

Mobility Music
1999

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Between Joy and Consequence (Live)

From: Further
By Franklin Kiermyer

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