Miroslav Belev

Between 1979 and 1982, the Miroslav Vitouš Group was the primary outlet for the abundant improvisational skills of leader Vitouš and John Surman, exemplified by this 1981 release. Vitouš and Surman were well-matched in several ways, with roots and influences that extended beyond jazz, a love of playing freely and a commitment to using the full sound potential of their respective instruments: Surman sings at the top of the baritone sax’s range to match Vitouš’s fiddle-like arco flourishes on the double bass. Drummer Jon Christensen shared their passion for playing, as did Kenny Kirkland, only 24 at the time of this session, on his way to becoming one of modern jazz’s outstanding pianists. Repertoire includes classic Vitouš pieces, collective improvising and an early version of Surman’s relentlessly driving Number Six.

Made in collaboration with legendary jazz bassist and sampling visionary, Miroslav Vitous, Miroslav Philharmonik 2 gives you a over 58GB sound library with over 2,700 instruments sampled in glorious high-definition audio. Every instrument fits — they are made to play together and made to stand alone.

Made in collaboration with legendary jazz bassist and sampling visionary, Miroslav Vitous, Miroslav Philharmonik 2 gives you a over 58GB sound library with over 2,700 instruments sampled in glorious high-definition audio. Every instrument fits — they are made to play together and made to stand alone.

The great Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš returns once more to the music of Weather Report, the group he cofounded with Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter in 1970. Vitouš and his band revisit well known Weather Report repertoire including Birdland, Seventh Arrow, Scarlet Woman and Morning Lake along with Acrobat’s Issues, a piece which the first Weather Report lineup played but never record. Interspersed along the way are recent blues tunes from Vitouš’s pen. The band, driven by the astounding double drumming of Gerald Cleaver and Nasheet Waits, is energetic and daring, juxtaposing time playing and rhythmically free pulses, with Vitouš’s arco bass playing sometimes sounding like a third horn in between the two saxophones.

Miroslav Vitous' 'Ziljabu Nights' is the eighth release in Intuition Records "European Jazz Legends" series, presenting famous names from the European jazz scene in a live performance.