 EnlargeEmil Hattoon and canine chum. A good friend of my Dad's and of the rest of the family as well. |
 EnlargeKenny Barton at the piano. A fine player in the tradition of Art Tatum. Hard to play bass with, almost impossible to play guitar with, but a great player nonetheless. |
 EnlargeRobert "Hoppy" Johnson. The first drummer I ever played jazz with. A gentleman, who never had and unkind word about anyone. As you get older, you realize all the people in the world who AREN'T like this, so you appreciate the ones who are all the more. |
 EnlargeThe Trombone Section, year unknown. Ricardo Misterioso on bass, Larry Niehaus to the left on trombone, my Dad in the middle playing a solo. Don't recognize the other three trombonists. |
 EnlargeThe Sam Crain Quartet(2) performs at Lime St Cafe. The (2) is the quartet with piano instead of tenor sax, sorta like Espn 2 or MTV2-same basic channel,slightly different frequency. Kevin Hart, piano; SC, guitar; Kevin Ellis, bass; Don Cochran, drums. |
 EnlargeThe ‘Cactus guy’ is named Sidewinder Sam. Courtesy of Don Udey, taken in Arizona. It refers to a weekly poker game I’ve been hosting for some years. ‘Sidewinder Sam’ is my poker persona.. |
 EnlargeBassist Andy Burtschi, who is on my CD’s “Rose of Loami” and
“Oop Bop Sh’ Bang”. |
 EnlargeA publicity photo of me, taken by Ed Clark. |
 EnlargeTurn off da bubble machine! Virgil Rhodes joins me at Norb Andy’s on his new bubble sax. Not much for tone, but you can really see what you’re playing. |
 EnlargeThe quartet does a ‘nooner’ in downtown Springfield. GG Pelletier, tenor sax; Kevin Ellis, bass; Don Cochran, drums- and you know the guitar player. |
 EnlargeOur official band picture, again taken by Ed Clark. |
 EnlargeKevin Ellis, on his new 6-string bass. Taken Dec. 7, ‘02. I bought his 5-string bass from him about that time, and I suppose when he graduates to a 7 or 8 string bass, he’ll want to cut me a deal on this one. |
 EnlargeCatching up on some-ahem-technical reading during our recording of “Oop Bop Sh’ Bang”. |
 EnlargeTaken after a Sam gig at Robbie’s, ca. 2001- it’s been awhile. Amy Smith, Darrell Taylor, myself and Tim Green. Drummer Darrell Taylor passed away maybe a year later, and is missed by those of us who had the pleasure of working with him. |
 EnlargeBob Katt and the Missing Lynx, a local jazz/R & B/what-have-you band with whom I’ve been working since last summer. See my Gigs section for more info. |
 EnlargeThe Lincolnland Community College Jazz Combo for 1981. From the top: Tim Harte, drums; David Hoffman, valve trombone; Larry Crowley, bass; Paul Lerch, tenor sax; Mark Cannedy, trumpet; Brian Moore, alto sax; Sam Crain, guitar. Actually Dave got Best Jazz Soloist, mine was just an Honorable Mention. But hey it’s something! |
 EnlargeThe other pr shot of me, also by Ed Clark. |
 EnlargeWith Joshua Breakstone, a GREAT guitarist, certainly an influence on my playing, in New York, Nov. 2000. |
 EnlargeAn earlier incarnation of the quartet, at Sebastian’s(Spfld IL)sometime in 1998 or so. Don Cochran, drums; Amy Smith, vocals; Jeff Rogers, bass. |
 EnlargeCraig Russo-drummer/percussionist, bandleader in his own right, who’s on my CD “Oop Bop Sh’ Bang”. |
 Enlargethe Sam Crain Trio. Bill Schlipf, bass; Sam Crain, guitar; Don Cochran, drums. |
 Enlargeme with David Hoffman, a dear friend of several decades and a BITCH trumpet player. |
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