Eberhard Weber

Bass Reflections

Miroslav Vitous

Universal Syncopations II

(Ecm)

US release date: 20 June 2007

[17 October 2007]

by Will Layman

Recently, two most idiosyncratic jazz bass players, Miroslav Vitous and Eberhard Weber, released riveting, odd, ambitious recordings, suggesting the importance of the bass tradition to the larger history of the music.

Fine article.

Two of my favorite contemporary jazz composers are bass players: William Parker and Adam Lane, which perhaps can be a testament to the instruments position in jazz. Parker’s been around for years, of course, but he continues write and play exciting and challenging music in various settings. I honestly think he deserves more recognition, especially in Europe where he remains largely unknown.

Lane is one of those who has a foot outside of jazz. He is often likened to Mingus, who is no doubt an inspirition, but as I once wrote on my blog, where Mingus looked to politics to fuel the energy of his music, Lane looks to avant rock. 

Never been a huge fan of neither Vitous’ nor Weber’s music. Like many of ECM’s releases I’ve often found their music too cold, for lack of a better word, but I’ll certainly give their new records a spin.

C

Comment by Chris Monsen from Oslo, Norway — October 17, 2007 @ 3:12 am

Add a comment

Please enter your name and a valid email address. Your email address will not be displayed. It is required only to prevent comment spam.

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Please enter the sequence of letters and numbers you see in the image above. Do not include any spaces.

Jazz Today
Double Standards

Double Standards

Will Layman

17.Jul.08

What does it say about our time and place that our two boldest -- maybe best -- jazz singers, Patricia Barber and Cassandra Wilson, are returning to singing standards again?

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Will Layman

27.Jun.08

Even today there are distinctive characteristics to American and European jazz styles. Which strain of music is most forward-looking? Which suggests the most promising vanguard for a music that seems to lose listeners even as its creativity expands?

Tangled Up in Blue Note

Tangled Up in Blue Note

Will Layman

29.May.08

"Blue Note" means there's a certain sound to a record, a style that is tight and sharp and funky but also adventurous. If jazz is music to shout about, Blue Note records may be the most shout-worthy of all time.

 
 

RECENT COLUMNS
MORE COLUMNS
:. recent columns :. full archive
Pop Osmosis: Smell Me
By Jennifer Byrne
[7.Aug.08]
Sticky Wickets: Lucha Libre London
By Robert Collins
[31.Jul.08]
Hapa Nation: Sargasso Sea
By May-lee Chai
[30.Jul.08]
The Box Office Belletrist: Rebel Rebel
By Jennifer Makowsky
[29.Jul.08]
Mixtape Confessions: Gone Festin’
By Ben Rubenstein
[28.Jul.08]
Marginal Utility: Brand Evangelists
By Rob Horning
[25.Jul.08]
Canon Fodder: American Film Theatre
By Michael Barrett
[18.Jul.08]
Jazz Today: Double Standards
By Will Layman
[17.Jul.08]
Pop Osmosis: Fun for the Entire Family
By Jennifer Byrne
[15.Jul.08]