Viktor Krauss

Music career

Krauss was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. As a boy, he enjoyed listening to soundtracks. He started on piano and trumpet before moving on to playing double bass with local jazz groups in his early teens. In high school, he began composing music and was influenced by rock, soul, and R&B. He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign and studied bass, voice, and electronic music. While in college, he formed a band called Difficult Listening.

In 1992, he became a member of the Free Mexican Airforce led by Peter Rowan, a bluegrass guitarist and singer from Boston. After working with Rowan, he joined the band of country singer Lyle Lovett, touring and recording for the next ten years. He played on Forget About It, a solo album by his sister, Alison.

He recorded his album Far from Enough (Nonesuch, 2004) with Alison, dobro player Jerry Douglas, drummer Steve Jordan, and guitarist Bill Frisell. Alison sings a cover version of the song "Big Log" by Robert Plant. Viktor Krauss called his album a soundtrack without a movie. It combines country, bluegrass, and jazz. His second album, II (EMI/Back Porch, 2007), was also compared to a film soundtrack. Shawn Colvin sings a cover version of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd.

Krauss has worked as a session musician on albums by the Cox Family, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Bill Frisell, Jerry Douglas, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Martin Taylor, Michael McDonald, and Natalie MacMaster.

Discography

As sideman

With Alison Krauss

With the Cox Family

With Bill Frisell

With Jerry Douglas

With Lyle Lovett

With Beth Nielsen Chapman

With Dolly Parton

With Jill Sobule

With Natalie MacMaster

With Ron Block

With Peter Rowan

With Jason White

With Carrie Rodriguez

With Sarah Jarosz

With Nicole C. Mullen

With others