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Viktor Krauss

Eclectic composer bassist Viktor Krauss was born in Champaign, IL, in 1969. His youth was spent listening to soundtracks and instrumental music, eventually leading him to the piano and trumpet. After witnessing the power and ominous presence of the double bass at a middle school concert, he found his true calling.  Krauss has been a presence in Nashville Tennessee since 1992 with nearly 500 album credits as either a bassist, composer/songwriter or producer.  On tour, Viktor has been Lyle Lovett’s primary bassist since 1994.  Other artists have included jazz great Bill Frisell, James Taylor. Sheryl Crow, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Buddy Miller. Tom Jones, Shawn Colvin, Carly Simon and Jerry Douglas. Chet Atkins, Larry Carlton, James Newton Howard, The Chieftains, Peter Rowan, Harry Connick Jr. J.D. Souther, Joan Baez, Indigo Girls, Dolly Parton, Rodney Crowell, Graham Nash, Michael McDonald, John Fogerty, Elvis Costello, Kenny Rodgers, Jewel, and Michael Feinstein.   

In 2004, Krauss recorded his solo debut of his original compositions, Far From Enough featuring an all-star band consisting of Frisell, Jerry Douglas, Steve Jordan, and sister Alison (peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard® Contemporary Jazz Chart). Krauss' second album, II , which featured core band guitarist Dean Parks and drummer Matt Chamberlain emerged three years later. In 2016, Vignette. a duo recording of original material with lever harpist extraordinaire Maeve Gilchrist was released.  Primarily instrumental music, Viktor cites that this music could be described as “a soundtrack without a movie with nods to ‘classic rock’ and jazz.”  In 2006, Viktor was awarded a fellowship for the prestigious Film Composers’ Lab at the Sundance Institute and his film composing credits include music for directors Ken Burns and the late Robert Altman. Viktor's original compositions from his solo recordings are used daily as musical "bumpers" for National Public Radio between programs.


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Album Review

Viktor Krauss: II

Read "II" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Thanks to his dexterity and vision on multiple stringed instruments, Krauss is kind of a musical everyman who has recorded and performed with Bill Frisell and Lyle Lovett (both of whom appear on II) plus Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello and The Chieftains. His solo debut, Far From Enough (Nonesuch, 2004), made it up to #6 on the Contemporary Jazz charts and featured contributions from guitarist Frisell and Allison Kraus (Viktor's sister) on viola and vocals.

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Recording

Viktor Krauss - Far from Enough (2004)

Viktor Krauss - Far from Enough (2004)

Source: Something Else!

By Tom Johnson I spent most of the morning flipping between one disc and the next, restless for something that actually fit my mood. I just didn't want to, you know, as they say, deal and nothing particularly appealed to me. On days like this, I tend to gather up a pretty disparate grouping of artists to accompany me to work because, well, I just never quite know what I'm going to be in the mood for. Today, I've got ...

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