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Hartmut Hillmann

Hartmut Hillmann is one of the most influential German six string bass players for more than twenty-five years. He started in 1987 to adapt the styles of the likes as Jaco Pastorius and Marcus Miller for the six stringed fretted and fretless instrument. Besides his incredible ability to groove and playing supportive, he is an ethnomusicologist having studied African and Indian rhythms intensively. Leaving the Europe and Africa touring odd-meter Funk band „Zabriskie Point“ after six years of collaboration in 1997, he started to concentrate on his solo career with his project „Illicit Poetry“ as composer, arranger and leader. The results were two CDs: „Eclectic Jazz“ and „Uncivilized“. Though enthusiastically acclaimed by many critics, there was not the major record deal Hartmut had dreamed of, and he retired in frustration from the music biz in 2002. He started to concentrate on teaching kids with special needs, exploring his Buddhist practice and playing drums in his German- Japanese Band „Ushi-Tora“ for five years. He jumped back to the scene in 2007 joining several band projects as a sideman like Dgroove, Wasserspiele, mbaf/ Scottish singer Kate Cassidy, touring with fellow bass player Kai Eckhardt and doing some solo concerts. Since summer of 2008 he‘s leading his own project again, named: „The Hartmut Hillmann Band“ featuring some of the finest German musicians: Joe Hain on keyboards, percussionist Klaus Frölich and Indian/Tamil percussionist Warren Wunderlich. The band's mix of natural instruments with extensive use of loops and electronics results in some Heavy- Urban-Ethno-Funk- Crossover-Hiphop. The Hartmut Hillmann Band can be heard as the house band at Frankfurt‘s Japanese Club „Mangetsu“ on a regular monthly schedule. Besides all that Hartmut continues to coach kids with special needs, giving bass workshops and demonstrations for his endorsers: Fodera Guitars, Euphonic Audio, Evidence Audio cables, Italia Leather straps, Wilson Effects and Cocco strings.

Awards

"First Bass International Bass Magazine" Contest: Best Player in category "Jazz", finalist in Category "Fusion" (1986) Berklee Scholarship (1992), but nerver went to Berklee;-)

Gear

Owner and endorser of: Fodera Imperial Six Custom fretted and fretless, 2x Euphonic Audio iAmp 800, 2x Bag End Q10XD cabinets, Wilson Wah-Wah, Italia Leather straps, R.Cocco strings, John East Stomp Box STMP-01, Evidence audio cables, iGig gigbags


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Recording

New Hartmut Hillmann Band album rooted in both German folk and American jazz

Source: Lauren Rogers

At one point in time, the relentlessly percolating bass lines of Hartmut Hillmann defied categorization. So Hillmann started referring to it as “urban folk funk." It did not go over well. “That irritated critics and record companies so I stopped doing it," Hillmann revealed. An acclaimed six-string bass guitarist, Hillmann's distinct style is rooted both in German folk music and iconoclastic American jazz artists such as Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. That international and generational mishmash fuels the frenzied energy ...

"...(Hartmut Hillmann) is a very talented individual. He will contribute a great deal to the world of music!" 
CHARLIE BANACOS (teaching guru and New England Conservatory Of Music Boston)



"... I’ve enjoyed listening to Your band’s recording. I think it’s really good and has some very interesting music on it..."
 JIMMY HASLIP ( Yellowjackets)


"(Illicit Poetry) has convinced us in a musical sense!..."

ULRICH VORMEHR (EFA Medien)



"We here like the Illicit Poetry production exceptionally!..." BERT GERECHT (Hot Wire Records)



"...I like (Illicit Poetry) very much...my colleagues appreciate your chops and the songs and were absolutely delighted!" KNUT SCHULZE (SONY Records, Germany)

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Primary Instrument

Bass, electric

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Hartmut teaches since about 25 years, his main goal is to free the inner unlimited potential in each player: You can do it! Main themes: groove, improvisation, eartraining, playing in a band, overcoming obstacles which inhibit Your progress, avoiding injuries by the Feldenkrais Method. All musical aspects are also viewed in a Buddhist context, as many buddhist principles correlate with being a musician: mentor-disciple, oneness of body and mind, oneness of live and environment. Hartmut gives online lessons and person to person lessons (8 Miles south of Frankfurt Airport in Germany). If You are interested mail to: [email protected]

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Music

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