InsideOut Music has been remastering and reissuing some of the Kraan catalog, and this 1988 live set from one of the premier German progressive fusion bands gets the royal treatment. Kraan have a few live albums out (Live 75 and Live 2001 being the others), and all really are winners, but this one might have the lowest profile of them all, and once you listen to this album you will wonder why. Live 88 was recorded after the band had disbanded then got back together again, so overall this period was not looked at by the fans as one of Kraan's best, but there is some spirited and quality grooves happening here. The line-up at the time was Peter Wolbrandt on guitar & vocals, Hellmut Hattler on bass, Jan Fride on drums, and Joo Kraus on trumpet & keyboards. This show, recorded at the Quasimodo in Berlin, features many Kraan classics like "Nam Nam", "Jerk of Life", and "Holiday Am Marterhorn". However, it's some of the lesser known pieces like "Vollgas Ahoi", "Wintruper Echo" and "Nachtfahrt" that really smoke as well. Plus you get the amazing & melodic bass solo from Hattler titled "Air Bass", one of the most underrated players out there. While always labled a progressive rock band, Kraan really were so much more, as their music contained plenty of jazz, funk, fusion, and R&B elements as well. Wolfbrandt's guitar work is outstanding, fluid yet with plenty of fire (fans of jazz great Mike Stern will love Peter's tone, chops, and phrasing) and the trumpet work of Kraus adds just the right amount of Miles Davis inspired jazz-fusion feel to the songs.
Along with all the already mentioned other Kraan live albums, this is a great CD to pop on and groove along to. It's danceable, it's got chops that will amaze you, and the melodies will be swimming around your head for days. If you have yet to check out the wonderous and amazing Kraan, this would be a great place to start. This reissue sounds fantastic, the players are inspired, the crowd is hot, and InsideOut has put together a nice digipak with lots of commentary & photographs. Highly recommended!
Track List
01. Rush Hour 3:39
02. Dinner For Two 1:34
03. Vollgas Ahoi 5:40
04. You´re Right 6:18
05. Wintruper Echo 5:28
06. Nam Nam 12:12
07. Holiday Am Marterhorn 7:33
08. Air Bass 6:20
09. Nachtfahrt 4:51
10. Favorite Land 4:45
11. Jerk Of Life 9:38
12. Kunststück 2:18
13. Kraan Arabia ´88 4:57
14. Ausflug 6:39-Bonus track
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