Born: April 22, 1961 Primary Instrument: Bass, electric
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;-)”... 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)
“ ...The vibes are the featured instrument on this odd- meter jazz-funk disc, but lurking beneath it all is bassist Hillmann, who rips it up six-string-style!...” SCOTT MALANDRONE, Bassplayer Magazine
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Primary Instrument:
Bass, electric
Location:
Gross-Gerau, Hesse
Willing to teach:
Advanced students 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:
info@hartmuthillmann.de
Clinic/Workshop Information:
1. "No Groove Without Soul" A concept for playing
supportive in a band, rising the band's energy level to the
top.
2. Using Apple computers for music production and live
recording including Logic, Stylus, Trilian, Omnisphere,
BFD, GURU and many more.
3. Using Apple computers for live performances including
loops and samples
