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01-30-2010, 09:54 AM
| | | | Have you ever heard of German bassist Hellmut Hattler or the band Kraan?
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Have you ever heard of German bassist Hellmut Hattler or the band Kraan? I have his first solo album from 1977 called baseball.
Here are some Kraan videos from the 70s. They were art rock and fusion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DmD9dV9G4Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t12HTux0bIQ
Check these out. Just bass and vocal
Hellmut Hattler & Siyou'n'Hell: Apparently Nothin' - live 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddEiv...eature=related
Hellmut Hattler & Siyou'n'Hell: Motherless Child / Baby Love - live 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGP9c...eature=related
Here are some Tab Two videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlMbX...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb9hh...eature=related
Hellmut Hattler,
bass guitarist extraordinaire, composer, producer, is a living legend with a rare ability of perpetually reinventing himself. A seemingly ever self-renewing musical wellspring, he finds himself among the small and elite circle of artists who have managed to sustain great acclaim and love, yes!, on part of ever-growing audiences in the usually short-lived pop world, while never lacking unmistakable artistic identy.
There may be reasons for this to be found in his vita: after years of forced violin lessons, he was ready to never touch a musical instrument again - and when he started to experiment with the bass, the instrument which should lay the foundations for his renown, it was with the firm conviction that he would never play but what came from the heart, what was entirely intuitive to him - another rare quality in the aggressively formatted entertainment industry we love to hate.
Accordingly, Hellmut Hattler has not only stood for a distinct sound and uniquely personal, quite awe-inspiring technique for over 30 years, he has also managed to never stand still artistically and to impress the music world again and again with his creative endeavors. In the 70s, Hellmut's legendary art rock outfit Kraan was among the few successful European attempts to provide an independent-minded answer of equal merit and substance to America's jazz-rock pioneers Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock or John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, selling hundreds of thousands of records. In the 80s, Hellmut appeared on stages around the world and on recordings in varying all-star formations with stellar peers including Billy Cobham, Alphonse Mouzon, Brian Auger and many others. Finally, in the 90s, he was half of the internationally successful and pioneer acid-hip-jungle-jazz duo Tab Two which released 10 award-winning albums on the Virgin and Polydor labels before disbanding in 1999 after 10 years of almost constant touring, producing and composing including for pop icons such as Tina Turner.
Over the last few years, Hellmut has put all his efforts into a series of releases presented plainly under the moniker 'HATTLER', again winning several awards including the Echo, the German equivalent of a Grammy. On the brand new release "The Big Flow", HH joins forces once more with renowned guitarist and community activist Torsten de Winkel in catchy and broader-than-ever melange of his much-admired electric bass guitar work with contemporary electronica, seriously soulful vocals (now by the remarkable discovery Fola Dada), ethnic quotes, and a touch of jazz "coolness" which he has established as his signature production sound over the last five years. |
01-31-2010, 03:22 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Europe | | |
Last edited by bassjumper : 02-03-2010 at 01:53 AM.
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01-31-2010, 05:09 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Germany, Europe, Planet Earth | | Quote: |
Have you ever heard of German bassist Hellmut Hattler or the band Kraan?
| JUp, I have...might have to do with the fact that I'm hanging round in Germany most of the time. 
Kraan was way before I started to play bass, but they must have been well known. I'm not too familiar with their stuff.
Hattler himself is very well known among bassplayers over here.
Very cool pick style. If you're into that kinda playing, he's really great.
I read about Steve Harris and Roy Vogt being deeply impressed when they saw Hattler live. I've never seen him live, so can't comment on that. |
01-31-2010, 05:16 AM
| | | | Count me in as a fan. Thanks for the update on his current music. Had no idea on what he has been up to. He appears not to have the clankey (good way) Ric sound anymore. Seems he moved on.
Thanks. |
02-01-2010, 02:23 PM
| | | Seriously, should we judge the merits of a legend by how fast he plays or how loud he can shred? In my honest opinion, Hellmut Hattler belongs in every conversation that includes the greatest bass players of the modern music era. First and foremost, my opinion is partially biased because I was fortunate enough to live in Germany from 1984 to 1994. I was able to witness Hellmut on several different occasions. Each time was an experience that taught me a little bit more about finding your own voice in music. Finally, in 1993, I was s background singer in a band called So What. We actually opened for Tab Two on 2 occasions that year.
Hellmut Hattler’s sound is unmistakable and remarkably consistent. His approach to songwriting embodies everything that bass players need to take note of. Simply put, Hellmut in my opinion, understands that his primary responsibility is to supply a groove that is unwavering and unmatched. The track “Club Mambo” and “Twentieth Century Party Waste” are great examples of these spot on grooves. “Love is The Melter” is one of my favorites because it simply has a "smoove" groove.
When it comes to creating melodic masterpieces, his tone makes all the difference in the world. “So Low”, “Sunny Jay” and “Don’t Bother” are perfect examples of how Hellmut Hattler’s individual voice, coupled with his mastery of sound design makes him a trailblazer worthy of recognition. On a personal note, in my own effort to duplicate his big, crisp unmistakable sound, I purchased a Behringer Bass V-Amp just for the Hellmut Hattler presets!
No, Hellmut is not Jaco. Jaco is Joco. I have always lived by two mottos that contradict each other but are true nevertheless. The first is “Imitation is the highest form of flattery”. While we here in North America my not understand the value of a bass player, producer, humanitarian, bandleader like Hellmut Hattler, rest assured that there are scores of young bass players who are attentively studying Hellmut’s methodology. (“Assalamu Alaikum” , “Lilo & Max” “Dinner for Three” show chops, but also reveal a man who is socially conscious!)
The second motto is “Don’t TRY to be different. Be great. Great is different enough." Hellmut Hattler is different because he is great. But, he’s great because he is different. (Listen to “Didgeridoo” “Dehli News” or “Marsalles” for brilliant songwriting and wonderful arranging.)
Hellmut Hattler is relevant. He makes a difference. He is a solid human being that grooves really hard. I can’t wait to get a whammy bar put on my bass one day.
Tommy http://www.myspace.com/thesecretorderofthegroove http://www.myspace.com/evenstillmusic
Last edited by evenstill : 02-01-2010 at 02:28 PM.
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02-02-2010, 01:57 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada. | | Other than being a Glockenklang endorser nope. Interesting band. |
02-06-2010, 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Randall  Other than being a Glockenklang endorser nope. Interesting band. | 
shame on you. |
02-06-2010, 11:31 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada. | | No shame just the truth.  |
02-07-2010, 08:38 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Europe | | I just read a recent, long interview on 40 years of Hellmut Hattler's basses. With basses like Fender, Rickenbacker, Ibanez, Warwick, Ritter, and Status. http://www.danbbs.dk/~m-bohn/kraan/hattlerbass.htm
I especially liked this passage:
Q: Before Kraan, just a few bassplayers in rockmusic made bass-solos (I can remember John Entwhistle, Jack Bruce, Jack Cassady, Tony Reeves, Felix Papparlardi) but you were a pioneer on bass-solos without any backing at all, and it became a good tradition to Kraan concerts, where you always involved the audience in it. How did that come up? A: Sometimes I had the intention to lead the lorry out of the mud (e.g. when the others were too stoned on stage, or just were lost in arrangements), so I escaped - in bass solos…
Last edited by bassjumper : 02-07-2010 at 10:54 PM.
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02-07-2010, 02:18 PM
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Endorsing Artist: Carvin,Modulus, Hotwire & Conklin Basses, Eden Amps | | Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Nashville,TN | |
I met him through Bert Gerecht at Hotwire Basses and Hotwire Records. We both play Hotwire Sharkey fretlesses designed by Magnus Krempel.
Thoroughly loved his band-Acid Jazz/Jungle with Drums, Bass, Rhodes, Trumpet w/fx and Vocals. This was several years back, so I've no idea what he's doing now.
Great Player!
Last edited by Roy Vogt : 02-07-2010 at 02:22 PM.
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02-10-2010, 11:57 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada. | | No worries  |
03-25-2010, 06:14 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Europe | | A brand new cd of KRAAN is out, called Diamonds. I haven't heard it yet, but fans are writing about it enthusiastically.
And there'll be a debut cd of Hellmut's duo project: Siyou meets Hellmut Hattler - Siyou'n'Hell. http://www.facebook.com/siyounhell |
03-25-2010, 04:08 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Germany, EU | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Richland123 Have you ever heard of German bassist Hellmut Hattler or the band Kraan? | I grew up with Kraan in the 70's - they played last week in the town I live. Missed the concert - had to work  
Anybody interested in rock in Germany knew Kraan, nobody knew Rush and Geddy. Thanks for introducing Rush, let us return the favor by introducing Kraan ! 
From one of their first LP's Andy Nogger
Holiday am Marterhorn.... http://www.youtube.com/get_video?vid...I5EI%3D&fmt=22
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03-25-2010, 04:21 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Germany, EU | | let me add one more... KRAAN Nam Nam KRAUTROCKpalast 2005 Part one Part two
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03-25-2010, 04:29 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Germany, EU | | what the h*ll, one more from the same concert featuring Hellmut's hard driving plectrum work ! Borgward
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Last edited by OldogNewTrick : 03-28-2010 at 10:48 PM.
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03-26-2010, 10:27 AM
| | Registered User
Peavey Amps Club #64 | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dietzenbach, Germany | | | It's pretty rare to hear a pick player that can play as funky as he does. Plus his use of a tremelo that doesn't sound like he's just a frustrated, wannabe guitard.
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03-26-2010, 10:26 PM
| | | | Never heard of him until today. Count me in as a fan. Very cool picking style! Love "Intro Mine". |
03-28-2010, 06:57 AM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maine/Vermont | | No, but I have heard of the German band Can.  | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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