Miroslav Vitous (Weather Report)

By Thomas Semioli 

 

He is an icon of the instrument, and nearly competed in the Olympics as a free style swimmer!

 

A protégé who studied at the Prague Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, Miroslav Vitous arrived in New York City in 1967 and immediately found himself on the bandstand and recording studio with Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Herbie Mann, among others.

 

Akin to many young jazz players in the late 60s, Vitous was open to electrified rock and rhythm & blues influences, which landed him a gig with Weather Report in 1971. As the anchor of Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter’s watershed ensemble, Vitous waxed slabs which are considered among the most influential jazz fusion history: Weather Report (1971), I Sing The Body Electric (1972) , Sweetnighter (1973) which also featured Andrew White on bass, and Mysterious Traveler (1974) which also featured Alphonso Johnson on electric.

 

Inspired by his native Czech folk music, along with such players as Scott LaFaro, Ron Carter, and Gary Peacock, Miroslav is a  prolific solo recording artist, band member, collaborator, academic, and educator – among other titles, whose curricula vitae spans post-bop, fusion, avant-garde, big band and permutations thereof.

 

Among the more adventurous releases under his own name includes Universal Syncopations (2006) wherein Vitous bases his compositions on “symphonic samples” which he accrued over a seven-year period.

 

Vitous also leads a Weather Report repertory ensemble which continues the sonic, harmonic, and rhythmic explorations of the famed collective.

 

Dig Miroslav…

 

Weather Report Live 1971: https://youtu.be/iRJC5WeeNSI

 

“Synthesizers Dance” https://youtu.be/7RmXGzTUyOQ 

 

Project Q Live 2013 https://youtu.be/gLcBOwvBn1s

 

Chick Corea “Now He Sings, Now He Sobs” https://youtu.be/eVeGH6JC-eE

 

From Universal Syncopations ll:

 

“Universal Evolution” https://youtu.be/yNoSADkgHLo

 

“Solar Giant” https://youtu.be/TE0B6iTAhiU

 

Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report)

Courtesy of Embama Com Courtesy of Embama Com

Courtesy of Embama Com

He is a giant of the 1970s jazz fusion era who also expanded his artistry into rock and pop music. Alphonso Johnson began his musical journey on trumpet, then on to upright bass, then to the electric where his virtuosity shone brightest.

Barely into his 20s, Alphonso was in the studio and on stage with Weather Report, taking over the bass chair from Miroslav Vitous. His three slabs with the band: Mysterious Traveller (1974), Tale Spinnin’ (1975) and Black Market (1976) which he split with Jaco – are world music touchstones. Johnson’s Fender Precision tone was cited by Darryl Jones in this testimonial: https://youtu.be/ltDn-gZzeF0

An educator, solo recording artist, collaborator, bandmember, and clinician, Alphonso also brought the Chapman Stick to the forefront, and has recorded extensively on extended range and fretless.

I highly advise you visit Alphonso’ website wherein he explains his approach to the instrument – and his latest releases and live dates.

He is among the handful of bassists you need to experience live! http://embamba.com/

My choice Alphonso tracks which span funk, world, soul, rock, pop and every permutation thereof:

“Cucumber Slumber” from Weather Report’s Mysterious Traveler (1974) https://youtu.be/5gsk-ae_y8I

“Man in the Green Shirt” from Weather Report’s Tale Spinnin’ (1975) https://youtu.be/gdstJfWHqx0

“Hip Pockets” from Billy Cobham – George Duke Band Live on Tour in Europe (1976) https://youtu.be/PK4Ox-EJeOE

Title track from Flora Purim’s Open Your Eyes You Can Fly (1976) https://youtu.be/L-yYZg-DQYQ

“Stump” from Alphonso’s Moonshadows (1977) https://youtu.be/F8VM8NZPcmw

“Children Are the Spirit” from Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Just Family (1978) https://youtu.be/v9St6i68Eok

“Book of Rules” from Bob Weir’s Bobby & the Midnights Live (1981) https://youtu.be/YjAhM6e1D-o

“I Missed Again” from Phil Collins’ Face Value (1981) https://youtu.be/yr-SNCtoyPk

“Brotherhood” from Santana’s Beyond Appearances (1985) https://youtu.be/kOjaaIPYahk

“Fountain of Salmacis” from Steve Hackett’s Genesis Revisited (1997) https://youtu.be/VwFZd0i0nb8

Jazz Is Dead’s Laughing Water (1999 ) https://youtu.be/UzpeMhtxrF4

“Waters of March” from Sergio Mendes’ Encanto (2008) https://youtu.be/PwrtN3l7-xQ

Courtesy Sony Legacy Com Courtesy Sony Legacy Com

Courtesy Sony Legacy Com