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ABOUT

Eclectic bassist/composer/producer Viktor Krauss was born in Champaign, IL, in 1969. His youth was spent listening to film scores 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.  After graduating from the University of Illinois (Bachelor of Music Composition/Theory '91), 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.  Starting with 1996’s “Nashville”, Krauss began a long tenure with jazz guitarist great Bill Frisell.  Other albums with Frisell include “Gone, Just Like a Train”,  “Good Dog, Happy Man”,  “East/West” and “Disfarmer.”  Other artists over his career have included notables Tom Jones, Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow, Robert Plant, James Taylor, Buddy Miller, Jerry Douglas, Alison Krauss, 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 (Nonesuch)featuring an all-star band consisting of Frisell, Jerry Douglas, Steve Jordan, and sister Alison Krauss(peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard® Contemporary Jazz Chart). Krauss' second album, II (EMI), features core band session greats Dean Parks and Matt Chamberlain. Krauss, along with lever harpist extraordinaire Maeve Gilchrist released a duo album in 2017 entitledVignette.  Primarily instrumental music, Viktor cites that his own music could be described as “a soundtrack without a movie with nods to ‘jazz, classic rock and electronic music’.”  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.  Viktor continues to be very active as a music producer and arranger.

INSTAGRAM

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SOLO MUSIC 

VIKTOR KRAUSS - FAR FROM ENOUGH (Nonesuch 2004)

Viktor Krauss - bass, electric guitar, vocals

Jerry Douglas - slide guitars

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars

Steve Jordan - drums

Alison Krauss - vocals, viola

1. For a Good Time  2. Far From Enough  3. Overcast  4. Tended  5. Philo  6. Big Log

7. Playground  8. Grit Lap  9. Sunday Afternoon Man  10. Side Street  11. Here To Be Me

12. Split Window

produced by Lee Townsend

recorded and mixed by: Jason Lehning

recorded at Sound Emporium and Brown Cloud, Nashville

assistant engineer: Adam Munoz

mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound

VIKTOR KRAUSS - II (Back Porch Records 2007)

Viktor Krauss - bass, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboard instruments

Dean Parks - electric and acoustic guitars, cimbus Matt Chamberlain - drums, percussion, electronics

with special guests:

Shawn Colvin

Bill Frisell

Shweta Jhaveri

Lyle Lovett

Ben Taylor

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    1.  Hop  2.  No Time Like the Past  3.  Eyes In the Heat  4.  When She's Dancing  5. Pinky       Ring 6.   (I Could Have Been Your) Best Friend  7.  Ecotone  8.  Shine On You Crazy Diamond

    9.   Dudeman  10.  Last Book

produced by Lee Townsend

Engineered by Jason Lehning 

Additional engineering by Adam Munoz, Fred Remmert, Jim Karwan

Assistant tracking engineer: Jason Mott

Assistant mixing engineer: Loredana Crisan

Mastering engineer: Greg Calbi

Recorded at Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles

Additional recording: Cedar Creek Studio, Austin; Fantasy Studio, Berkeley; KSPOR Traxx, Nashville; Emerald, Nashville; Sony Music Studios, New York

Mixed at San Francisco Soundworks, San Francisco

Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York

VIDEO

Maeve Gilchrist and Viktor Krauss "Overcast"   The Studio Nashville 10-17-2017.

Maeve Gilchrist - Harp

Viktor Krauss - Viktor Krauss

Todd Lombardo - Guitar

Jordan Perlson - Drums

Bill Frisell - Masters of War

April 22, 2005 La Trastienda, Buenos Aires

w/Viktor Krauss~Bass,

Matt Chamberlain~Drums

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Lyle Lovett - "Penguins"

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno November 1994

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Jerry Douglas, "Tended"

Jerry Douglas with Viktor Krauss on Bass and Todd Lombardo on guitar.  Performing at Music City Roots at the Loveless Cafe Barn, Nashville Tn on October 27, 2010

Shawn Colvin - "I Don't Know You"  World Cafe Live 2011

Shawn Colvin, Buddy Miller and Viktor Krauss

Maeve Gilchrist/Viktor Krauss"Philo"

Maeve Gilchrist: harp

Viktor Krauss: bass

Jordan Perlson: drums

Todd Lombardo: guitar

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band- "That's Right, You're Not From Texas”

San Antonio - 1996

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Viktor Krauss "Dudeman" Divadlo Stará střelnice

Robert Crawford (Drums), Todd Lombardo (A. Guitar) and Steve Walsh (E. Guitar) 5-31-10

Bill Frisell - Equinox

April 22, 2005 La Trastienda, Buenos Aires

w/Viktor Krauss~Bass,

Matt Chamberlain~Drums

Viktor Krauss "Here to Be Me" Divadlo Stará střelnice

Robert Crawford (Drums), Todd Lombardo (A. Guitar) and Steve Walsh (E. Guitar) 5-31-10