“Album of the Year” Prize for Miroslav Vitous

[rene]

For fans of Miroslav Vitous, here's something to look forward to, if you haven't done so yet...


October 17 , 2007

“Album of the Year” prize for Vitous

Miroslav Vitous’s “Universal Syncopations II” has been voted Album of the Year by the German Record Critics, winning the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik 2007.

The disc explores a wider range of options than its best-selling predecessor (released 2003), as choirs loom out of the mix and orchestral colours swirl around a shifting cast of modern jazz players which includes Randy Brecker on trumpet and Bob Mintzer, Bob Malach and Gary Campbell on saxophones. Miroslav’s uniquely expressive double-bass drives the music forward and has a central role to play in the ensemble interaction.

The critics’ jury on “Universal Syncopations II”: “A truly cliché-free bridge between classic and jazz (...) A masterpiece full of acoustic adventure, a gleaming example of borderless fantasy from the Czech bassist with an American passport who, together with Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter, baptized the supergroup Weather Report back at the beginning of the 70s.”

The prize will be presented to Miroslav Vitous on November 17, at an awards ceremony in Berlin’s Musikinstrumenten Museum.


http://www.ecmrecords.com/News/Diary/202_Miroslav_Vitous.php?lvredir=733&rubchooser=202&mainrubchooser=2


I'm listened to the first 2 cuts so far and find it very interesting...music on a grand scale, classical meets free jazz meets bitches brew, etc. Quite different from his music from the 70s-80s.

[Ron Thorne]

How intriguing. Thanks, René.

[Valerie]

i'm so happy for him. used to know him in the '60s when he was a young man in nyc (and i was still a young woman)! he was a talented musician from the get-go!

[Freetoojazz]

For the first time of my life, I will see Miroslav Vitous at the Montreal Jazz Festival this summer. I'm anxious to see him perform in a duo with Jean Vanasse (vibes).

[Freetoojazz]

Jean Vanasse and Miroslav Vitous (in July 5th):

Jean Vanasse is a vibraphone player who rolls his bump for a long time. I knew him only of name, but not musically. I knew that he had already recorded a album with Miroslav Vitous.

Vitous is tall, massive and strong. His double-bass seems to be made by a stringed-instrument maker with particular recommendations, because it does not look like a conventional instrument.

He played it as a cellist, that he sits on a chair, never standing. The huge hands caught it hard.

Jean Vanasse left the place to Vitous. I was not warm to see a portable (computer) in the corner of the place connected on a small keyboard. Vitous used it from time to time to create an effect. The sound from this keyboard was so unreal that it broke the natural echo of both acoustic instruments. A dynamic sound of bird, trumpet came to destabilize me.

Without exaggeration, Vitous could easily executed a concert solo. I am convinced that the evening would be made a success. On the other hand, I would like to see him in another context with a large full band.

[barrospablito]

Great masterpiece. I like artists who are not afraid to appear cocky and thus risking a lot.