Miroslav Vitous

[Tom Storer]

Just read this on the site of UK jazz magazine JazzWise:

23.06.03 :: Legendary bassist to record with supergroup

Bassist Miroslav Vitous, formerly of key jazz-rock group Weather Report, is to release an as-yet-untitled album with a supergroup for the German ECM record label.

He's to work with guitarist John McLaughlin, formerly of the 70s Mahavishnu Orchestra; Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, whose 70s work included My Song with Keith Jarrett; drummer Jack deJohnette, who was on Miles Davis' era-defining Bitches Brew, and pianist/keyboardist Chick Corea, leader of jazz-rock group Return to Forever.

Vitous has not been active on the jazz scene for some years, recording a solo project for ECM back in the mid-80s but little has been heard of him internationally since. As a founder member of Weather Report, co-led by Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul, he recorded on the group's eponymous debut recorded in 1971 and was also on I Sing the Body Electric, Live in Tokyo, Sweetnighter and Mysterious Traveller.

The Czech born-player, who is 55, moved to the United States in the mid-1960s and worked with Herbie Mann and Miles Davis before becoming a member of Weather Report. The album is expected in October.

***************
So: Garbarek/McLaughlin/Corea/Vitous/DeJohnette. Garbarek isn't my cup of tea, but this could be pretty great for the rhythm section alone.

[Pete C]

Sounds potentially great, and it might also be a dud. Maybe Garbarek can be hypnotized into believing it's 1972.

[Brian Olewnick]

...and Corea and McLaughlin hypnotized into thinking it's 1969.

[Gentle Giant]

Maybe Chick Corea does care what I think! I think this sounds very promising. I hope it's a pretty free session.

[lazarus]

All musicians on this session has done great things in the past but I have my doubts about this album. I hope it will be an pleasant surprise.

Vitous album "Infinite Search" (aka "Mountains In The Cloud) and the Weather Report albums he played on are early fusion classics and big favorites of mine.

[gonzo]

damn,its about time!!!!!!! keep us updated on possible release date.

[Peterdubya]

I heard this one was coming and had been looking forward to it. So far, I'm not disappointed.
Miroslav has a GREAT band here, Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, and Jack DeJohnette.
There is also a small brass section on three tunes.
It seems like the core group is Vitous, DeJohnette, and Garbarek with Corea and McLaughlin joining on other tunes.
Vitous sounds powerful and lays down great rhythmic lines. garbarek's tone is great and the music definately goes 'out' in places.
I really like the disk and will write more after I live with the CD this weekend.

[Frank Kimbrough]

I found this one by chance a couple of days ago, and have played it repeatedly. There's some really fresh, loose playing, especially by Corea and Garbarek, and Miroslav sounds very strong and is very well-represented in the mix. I think it's some of their most engaged playing in years.....it's also really nice to hear McLaughlin in this context. There are quite a few pleasant surprises here, not least among them the 3 man brass section....

[Peterdubya]

Since Miroslav vitous has released his new ECM CD (which I love) he is touring a little and doing solo bass shows.
Oct 17 Tritone in Philly
18 Twins Lounge in DC
20 Joe's Pub in NYC
Baltimore on 21 or 22
and 24 Jordan Hall in Boston.

[Tanager]

Is he touring with the same band that plays on the CD?

[Peterdubya]

It's solo bass.

[Tanager]

Originally posted by Peterdubya
It's solo bass.

Yeah, I probably should have read your original post more closely.

[Fred K]

The D.C. show is now on Blues Alley's calendar on 10/21

[gonzo]

i have missed his wonderful playing over the years. heres hoping he'll do an L.A. area show.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Is he anywhere near NY on the 19th?

I'm in the area after a recording session with Joe Morris.

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Dennis Gonzalez
Is he anywhere near NY on the 19th?

I'm in the area after a recording session with Joe Morris.

Stay an extra day.

[Dennis Gonzalez]

Originally posted by Pete C
Stay an extra day.

I just may do that...

[bigtiny]

Hi all,

I just LOVE the two Miroslav quartet albums from the early 80's.

The band is Miroslav, Jon Christenson, Kenny Kirkland, and John Surrman.

I CANNOT find used copies on vinyl and I've never seen these on CD. Anybody know of a source?

Thanks,

bigtiny

[SEJ]

Originally Posted by bigtiny

Hi all,

I just LOVE the two Miroslav quartet albums from the early 80's.

The band is Miroslav, Jon Christenson, Kenny Kirkland, and John Surrman.

I CANNOT find used copies on vinyl and I've never seen these on CD. Anybody know of a source?

Thanks,

bigtiny

I've only heard the second of them, but I liked it too. If you go to the main ECM records site (http://ecmrecords.com/), enter "Vitous" as a search term at the top of the page, and select the relevant album icon, both First Meeting and Journey's End (released after the second of the quartets you are talking about, and which replaces Kirkland with John Taylor) have order links. Unfortunately, that second recording, Miroslav Vitous Group, is not available.

[Ron Thorne]

bigtiny-

It's not a Mirsoslav-led session, but have you heard the trio recording Chick Corea made with Miroslav and Roy Haynes in1968 . . . Now He Sings, Now He Sobs? If not, order it without delay! It's timeless stuff, and Miroslav and Roy couldn't provide better backing for Chick's acoustic work on this amazing recording.

[groover]

Tones for Joan's Bones/Mountain in the Clouds
Chick Corea, Miroslav Vitous


Can't go wrong with this two-fer, either!

[Ron Thorne]

bigtiny-

This may be some good news for you. I just found a vinyl copy of Miroslav Vitous Group on eBay for $9.99 Buy It Now. S&H is $8.00. Overall, not bad for an OOP LP.

Here are the sellers comments/ratings:

WARNER BORS / ECM ECM-1-1185, STEREO, MADE IN USA, COVER VG+, RING & CORNER WEAR, VINYL VG++, EXCELLENT, NO SCRATCHES OR SCUFFS,




Click here<

[Simon Fay]

All 3 are great. Can't think why the second hasn't been reissued (in fact I should've thought to add it to my list in the necessary ECM reissue thread)

SF

[Freetoojazz]

I just found this image. If someone have more news, please let me know if it'll be the same players of the first one. It seems that it'll be available in the begining of July.

[Ron Thorne]

Originally Posted by Freetoojazz

I just found this image. If someone have more news, please let me know if it'll be the same players of the first one. It seems that it'll be available in the begining of July.

According to the Amazon/UK website, the new album will be released on June 25, 2007.

Here's a description and listing of personnel, which are totally different from the 2003 release.

Album Description
This is the follow-up to 2003's hugely successful 'Universal
Syncopations'. Volume II explores a wider range of musical options than its
predecessor, with choirs looming out of the mix while orchestral colours
swirl around a shifting cast of modern jazz players. It features a stellar
line-up that brings together some of the leading modern jazz soloists of
the post-`fusion' era: Randy Brecker, Bob Malach, Bob Mintzer, Gary
Campbell - all four making their ECM debuts. As always Miroslav's uniquely
expressive double-bass drives the music forward with a central role in the
group interaction.

'Universal Syncopations II', features music for ensemble, orchestra and
choir composed, archived, arranged, directed, produced and engineered by
Miroslav Vitous.

Personnel:
Miroslav Vitous - (double-bass), Randy Brecker - (trumpet), Bob Mintzer -
(tenor saxophone, bass clarinet), Gary Campbell - (soprano and tenor
saxophone), Bob Malach - (tenor saxophone), Daniele di Bonaventura -
(bandoneon), Vesna Vasko-Cáceres - (voice), Adam Nussbaum, Gerald Cleaver
- (drums)

[bigtiny]

Originally Posted by Freetoojazz

I just found this image. If someone have more news, please let me know if it'll be the same players of the first one. It seems that it'll be available in the begining of July.

I've always dug Miroslav, but I HATED the first 'Universal Syncopations'......I thought it really just laid there....

bigtiny

[guy]

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Album Description
This is the follow-up to 2003's hugely successful 'Universal
Syncopations'. Volume II explores a wider range of musical options than its
predecessor, with choirs looming out of the mix while orchestral colours
swirl around a shifting cast of modern jazz players. It features a stellar
line-up that brings together some of the leading modern jazz soloists of
the post-`fusion' era: Randy Brecker, Bob Malach, Bob Mintzer, Gary
Campbell - all four making their ECM debuts. As always Miroslav's uniquely
expressive double-bass drives the music forward with a central role in the
group interaction.

'Universal Syncopations II', features music for ensemble, orchestra and
choir composed, archived, arranged, directed, produced and engineered by
Miroslav Vitous.

Personnel:
Miroslav Vitous - (double-bass), Randy Brecker - (trumpet), Bob Mintzer -
(tenor saxophone, bass clarinet), Gary Campbell - (soprano and tenor
saxophone), Bob Malach - (tenor saxophone), Daniele di Bonaventura -
(bandoneon), Vesna Vasko-Cáceres - (voice), Adam Nussbaum, Gerald Cleaver
- (drums)

This doesn't sound promising. Choir!?!?!?

Guy

[gonzo]

sounds like its gonna be great!! can hardly wait. what is the release date on this?

[RHFusillo]

One of the musicians on "Universal Syncopations II" is a friend of mine, so I asked him how the album is. His response: "It's kind of like a science project, and Miroslav is better at the science now than he was when he recorded the first one ... I'm looking forward to hearing the finished product myself." Should be interesting.

[Simon Fay]

Originally Posted by bigtiny

I've always dug Miroslav, but I HATED the first 'Universal Syncopations'......I thought it really just laid there....

bigtiny

It certainly struck me as less than the sum of its parts. I haven't listened to it since then though so maybe I should dig it out.