{{Short description|German acid jazz band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Tab Two | image = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | alias = | origin = Ulm, Germany | genre = Acid jazz<br>Hip hop<br>Trip hop<br>Drum and bass | years_active = 1991–1999, 2012-present | label = 36music, Polydor, Virgin | associated_acts = Kraan | website = {{URL|http://tabtwo.eu}} | current_members = Hellmut Hattler, Joo Kraus | past_members = Sandie Wollasch }}
'''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.<ref>{{cite web|title =Tab Two: Review |first=Ross |last=Boissoneau |publisher=Allmusic| url ={{Allmusic|class=album|id=tab-two-r310434|pure_url=yes}} |accessdate =11 October 2011}}</ref>
==History== Bassist Hattler and trumpeter Kraus had played together since 1987, for some of that time as members of Kraan.<ref name="Brockett">Brockett, Mick (2012) "[http://www.general-anzeiger-bonn.de/lokales/kultur/tab-two-mit-neuem-feuer-in-die-harmonie-article747155.html Tab Two: Mit neuem Feuer in die Harmonie]", ''General-Anzeiger'', 26 April 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015</ref> They began composing together and started Tab Two in 1991.<ref name="Brockett" /><ref name="Arndt">Arndt, Christian (1999) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=Zg4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22tab+two%22+joo+kraus&pg=PA43 German Combo Tab Two...]", ''Billboard'', 20 February 1999, p. 43. Retrieved 27 January 2015</ref> Combining acoustic instruments and electronics, their music was referred to as "hip jazz".<ref name="Arndt" />
They signed for Virgin Records in Europe, and later Polydor, JVC Victor in Japan, and released eight albums together before splitting up in 1999.<ref name="Brockett" /><ref name="Arndt" /> Their music was used in commercials for companies such as Mercedes-Benz and Bruno Banani.<ref name="Arndt" /> The duo's 1994 album "Hip Jazz" was named 'CD of the Month' by German magazine ''Der Wiener''.<ref name="Weinert">Weinert, Ellie (1994) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=UAgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22tab+two%22+joo+kraus&pg=PA41 Music Pulse: Germany]", ''Billboard'', 11 June 1994, p. 41. Retrieved 27 January 2015</ref>
After interest in reissuing their material, the duo held a press conference in November 2011.<ref>Pusch, Helmut (2011) "[http://www.swp.de/ulm/lokales/ulm_neu_ulm/Tab-Two-zum-Zweiten;art4329,1227481 Tab Two zum Zweiten]", ''Südwest Presse'', 24 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2015</ref> 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.<ref name="Brockett" />
In April 2012, at a festival on occasion of Hellmut Hattler's 60th birthday, Tab Two performed for the first time since 1999.<ref>Aboul-Kheir, Magdi (2012) "[http://www.swp.de/ulm/lokales/ulm_neu_ulm/Hellmut-Hattler-feiert-im-Roxy-musikalisch-fuenffach;art4329,1419210 Hellmut Hattler feiert im Roxy musikalisch fünffach] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416081355/http://www.swp.de/ulm/lokales/ulm_neu_ulm/Hellmut-Hattler-feiert-im-Roxy-musikalisch-fuenffach;art4329,1419210 |date=2012-04-16 }}", ''Südwest Presse'', 14 April 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015</ref> 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.<ref>"[http://tabtwo.eu/2013/04/18/review-veronika-starnes/ »…zzzipp! extended« album review (by Veronika Starnes)]", tabtwo.eu. Retrieved 27 January 2015</ref>
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==
=== Albums === *''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 === *''Robo Talk'' (1995), Victor *''Tab Two'' (1997), Virgin *''Two Thumbs Up'' (2012), 36music
=== Singles === *"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== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://tabtwo.eu}}
{{Authority control}} Category:German musical duos Category:Musical groups established in 1991 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1999 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2012 Category:1991 establishments in Germany