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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