VITOUS,MIROSLAV / JACK DEJOHNETTE
MOUNTAIN CALL - LP
UPC: 602478790423
Label: ECM RECORDS
Format: LP
Release Date: April 17, 2026
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Mountain Call represents a major statement from legendary bassist Miroslav Vitous, bringing together several strands of his creative work as improviser, composer and arranger. The album features a wide range of ensemble configurations centered around Vitous’s expressive double bass, prominently joined by the late French clarinetist Michel Portal and the masterful drummer Jack DeJohnette.
The music moves fluidly between intimate improvisational duos, dynamic trio interactions and larger ensemble pieces. Portal and Vitous share strikingly inventive exchanges throughout the album, opening and closing the programme with luminous clarinet and bass dialogues. DeJohnette adds rhythmic power and subtle colour, particularly on pieces such as “Tribal Dance” and “Epilog,” where bass and drums form a powerful core.
Elsewhere the music expands into broader textures. The multipart composition “Evolution” unfolds with painterly detail, while the suite “Rhapsody” features the distinctive voice of Esperanza Spalding interpreting Vitous’s lyrics. Recorded across several sessions over seven years at Vitous’s Prague studio and produced by Miroslav Vitous together with Manfred Eicher, Mountain Call reveals a composer and improviser exploring a wide creative landscape while maintaining a deeply personal musical voice.
Personnel
Miroslav Vitous – Double Bass
Michel Portal – Clarinet
Jack DeJohnette – Drums
Esperanza Spalding – Voice
Bob Mintzer – Clarinet
Gary Campbell – Soprano Saxophone
Gerald Cleaver – Drums
CSNO Orchestra – Orchestra
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