Loren Kranz profile picture

Loren Kranz

About Me

Loren Kranz first burst onto the Mid-Michigan music scene as a teenager, with his band Barbarossa. When that group reached its climax, receiving 7 Bay Area Review Music Awards in 2007, he found himself following a path that led south, to the Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor area. There he found a stimulating and inspiring atmosphere in which to make music and live as an artist. Now a student in the Jazz Studies program at Wayne State University, and a full-time musician, Loren has found work both as a sideman and as leader of his own groups. For the past year and a half, he has been traveling around the state with the fantastic Matt Besey Band, nominated for three Detroit Music Awards. In addition to being one quarter of the jam-rock group Michigan Monsoon, Loren is currently holding down the Hammond organ slot for Stand Back: A Tribute to the Music of the Allman Brothers Band, as well as occasionally filling in with blues greats Larry McCray and Sharrie Williams. Loren recently accepted an offer to join Michigan roots-rock group Soundhound. He also finds time to gig with the SheaMusic Project and take part in the bluegrass collective Daniel's Band, which he hopes to devote more time to in the future.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 25/09/2007
Band Members: Loren Kirker Kranz--vocals, guitars, keys, bass, drums, percussion (unless otherwise noted)
"Blue Sky" is an excerpt from the debut concert of Stand Back: A Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band, at Pit & Balcony Theatre, 11/8/08. That group features Loren on Hammond organ, piano, and vocals, Drew Pentkowski and Matt Besey on guitars and vocals, Chris Smith on the bass, and the double drums of Matt Burgie and Mark Dault.
"7 and 4" and "Shoe" were taken from a live recording of the Michigan Monsoon, a groove project featuring Drew Pentkowski on guitar and vocals, Matt Burgie on drums and vocals, Will Jackson on bass, and Loren on clavinet and Fender Rhodes piano.
Influences: All of my teachers, including: Bill Shephard, Jeff Hall, Dr. Andrew Spencer, Robbie Smith, Rich Lay, Tim Hendrickson, Russ Miller and Dave Taylor; as well as all those musicians with whom I have been fortunate enough to share the stage: Ryan Fitzgerald, Drew Pentkowski, Bryan Rombalski, Eddy Garcia, Barbarossa, Sharrie Williams and the Wiseguys, Stan Gilbert, Noel Howland, Sprout, Tom Laverty, Ray Torres and the Holy Gun, Bob Hausler, Larry and Steve McCray, the Matt Besey Band, Earl the Squirrel, Sal Valentino, the Banana Convention, Dave Kellan, Michigan Monsoon, the CMU Percussion Ensemble
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

Michigan Monsoon in the Saginaw News!

There's a nice article about my band, Michigan Monsoon, in the Entertainment section of the Saginaw News today. Compliments of Sue White, always a friend to the Mid-Michigan music scene. If you have a...
Posted by on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:37:00 GMT

The Last Waltz

Last Saturday night I was fortunate enough to take part in an event that resulted in several of the highest moments of my life: Sprout's tribute to the Last Waltz. That celebrated concert film chronic...
Posted by on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:49:00 GMT