Tab Two is a German acid jazz band formed in 1991. 'Tab' stands for Trumpet and Bass. The band consists of Hellmut Hattler and Joo Kraus.[1]
Tab Two | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ulm, Germany |
| Genres | Acid jazz Hip hop Trip hop Drum and bass |
| Years active | 1991–1999, 2012-present |
| Labels | 36music, Polydor, Virgin |
| Members | Hellmut Hattler, Joo Kraus |
| Past members | Sandie Wollasch |
| Website | tabtwo |
History edit
Bassist Hattler and trumpeter Kraus had played together since 1987, for some of that time as members of Kraan.[2] They began composing together and started Tab Two in 1991.[2][3] Combining acoustic instruments and electronics, their music was referred to as "hip jazz".[3]
They signed for Virgin Records in Europe, and later Polydor, JVC Victor in Japan, and released eight albums together before splitting up in 1999.[2][3] Their music was used in commercials for companies such as Mercedes-Benz and Bruno Banani.[3] The duo's 1994 album "Hip Jazz" was named 'CD of the Month' by German magazine Der Wiener.[4]
After interest in reissuing their material, the duo held a press conference in November 2011.[5] The musicians announced a "temporary reunion" with a tour limited to 10 concerts, and the release of the 3CD best-of album Two Thumbs Up in 2012.[2]
In April 2012, at a festival on occasion of Hellmut Hattler's 60th birthday, Tab Two performed for the first time since 1999.[6] The recordings were released as the 6-track album Live at the Roxy, for download only.
In February 2013, Tab Two announced the release of the 3-CD set ...Zzzipp! extended. The album consists of the remastered live recordings from the 2000 album ...Zzzipp! plus an additional track of a rehearsal with the audience, and a bonus CD with seven tracks from the 2012 tour.[7]
In 2013 they played two concerts as Tab Two & Friends, with former guest singer Sandie Wollasch again, and for the first time with a real band, Oli Rubow on drums and Ralf Schmid on keyboards.
Discography edit
Albums edit
- Mind Movie (1991), Intercord Record Service/EMI
- Space Case (1992), Intercord Record Service
- Hip Jazz (1994), Intercord Record Service/Virgin/Victor
- Flagman Ahead (1995), Virgin
- Belle Affaire (1996), Virgin
- Sonic Tools (1997), Virgin
- Between Us (1999), Polydor
- Zzzipp! (2000), Polydor
- Live At The Roxy (2012), 36music (download-only)
- Zzzipp! extended (2013)
Compilation albums edit
- Robo Talk (1995), Victor
- Tab Two (1997), Virgin
- Two Thumbs Up (2012), 36music
Singles edit
- "My Horn" (1993), Intercord Record Service
- "This Beat Goes Boom" (1993), Intercord Record Service
- "No Flagman Ahead" (1995), Virgin
- "Vraiment Paris" (1995), Virgin - promo only
- "Let It Flow" (1996), Virgin
- "Belle Affaire" (1997), Virgin
- Tab Two (1997) - promo only
- "Get There II" (1998), Polydor
- "No Way No War" (1999), Polydor
References edit
- ^ Boissoneau, Ross. "Tab Two: Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d Brockett, Mick (2012) "Tab Two: Mit neuem Feuer in die Harmonie", General-Anzeiger, 26 April 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015
- ^ a b c d Arndt, Christian (1999) "German Combo Tab Two...", Billboard, 20 February 1999, p. 43. Retrieved 27 January 2015
- ^ Weinert, Ellie (1994) "Music Pulse: Germany", Billboard, 11 June 1994, p. 41. Retrieved 27 January 2015
- ^ Pusch, Helmut (2011) "Tab Two zum Zweiten", Südwest Presse, 24 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2015
- ^ Aboul-Kheir, Magdi (2012) "Hellmut Hattler feiert im Roxy musikalisch fünffach", Südwest Presse, 14 April 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015
- ^ "»…zzzipp! extended« album review (by Veronika Starnes)", tabtwo.eu. Retrieved 27 January 2015