Jazz Articles about Miroslav Vitous

Miroslav Vitous: Universal Syncopations II

by John Kelman
July 18, 2007

The integration of orchestration and improvisation can take many forms. In the case of woodwind multi-instrumentalist Tim Garland's The Mystery (Audio-b, 2007), it's about clearly delineated form, with soloists working within defined structures. For bassist Miroslav Vitous the process is more complex. Universal Syncopations II expands on the premise of Universal Syncopations (ECM, 2003), integrating real-time ensemble interaction with separately recorded orchestration.

Extensive post-production editing provides Vitous the flexibility to create compositions that are like stylistic collages while managing to ...

Miroslav Vitous: Universal Syncopations

by C. Andrew Hovan
December 9, 2003

Much of the allure of producer Manfred Eicher's ECM label over the span of some three decades has been in the roster of artists who have found in the company an excellent match between the “chamber-like aesthetics of the recordings and their own muse. As such, it's no surprise that with today's smaller circle of artists on the company payroll the number of truly remarkable ECM albums as of late has been somewhat limited in number.

Universal Syncopations ...

Miroslav Vitous: Universal Syncopations

by Carlos Silva
November 22, 2003

Some truisms are so true. If you have the chance to listen to Miroslav Vitous' Universal Syncopations, you will understand why I'm compelled to say that music is about listening. Syncopations is a unique gathering of well vetted musicians who, besides of playing with real mastery, seem to be listening to each other carefully and respectfully. It is a sort of aural democracy: everybody has the chance to say it all and, at the same time, everyone lets the other ...

Miroslav Vitous: Universal Syncopations

by Alexander M. Stern
November 4, 2003

Not just an album, Universal Syncopations --bassist Miroslav Vitous's latest release on ECM, and his first as a leader in more than ten years--is nothing short of an event. With a stellar line-up consisting of living legends Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, John McLaughlin, and Jan Garbarek, Universal Syncopations is more than merely the sum of some truly fantastic parts. There is no ego on this album. Each musician plays with humility. A sense of stillness pervades the atmosphere. This is ...

Miroslav Vitous: Universal Syncopations

by AAJ Staff
October 10, 2003

Lots of people are going to be talking about this record. For good reason, admittedly, because bassist Miroslav Vitous dropped off the scene a while ago--to, among other things, amass a collection of orchestral samples--and has only just come back with his first record in a decade. This is the same man who played with Miles Davis and Chick Corea, who helped found the epic fusion group Weather Report, who brought John McLaughlin and Jan Hammer together. Back in the ...

A Fireside Chat With Miroslav Vitous

by AAJ Staff
October 10, 2003

A founding member of Weather Report, featured soloist on Chick Corea’s infamous Now He Sings, Now He Sobs Blue Note album, and leader of the genre bending Infinite Search has largely remained silent for the better part of two decades. Miroslav Vitous, once referred to as one of the perennial bassists in jazz, went into a self-imposed performing sabbatical. And then there was Universal Syncopations, Vitous’ (unedited and in his own words) first recording in over a decade. And with ...

Eugene McDaniels: Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse

by AAJ Staff
January 20, 2003

This is soul. Not Al Green soul. Not Isaac Hayes soul (but perhaps a bit closer to that). This is the soul of the black man. It is the soul of a student of history who is sick and tired of force-feeding and ready to spit back. This is the soul of a man tired of the system and using his art to reframe and correct it.When it first came out in 1971, Eugene McDaniels’ vitriolic statement irked ...