Miroslav Vitous Quotes

Powerful Miroslav Vitous for Daily Growth

About Miroslav Vitous

Miroslav Vystrčil Vitouš (born April 9, 1945), a renowned Czech jazz double-bassist, composer, and bandleader, is recognized as one of the most influential figures in modern jazz music. Born in České Budějovice, Bohemia (now the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic), Vitouš began his musical journey at a young age, learning to play the violin at four and switching to double bass at eleven. In 1962, he was admitted to the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno, where he studied under Vladimír Štulc and Vítězslav Košler. In 1964, Vitouš joined the Czechoslovakian army band, which allowed him to explore jazz music more extensively. In 1967, he defected during a tour in Germany, eventually settling in the United States. He quickly became a vital member of the New York City jazz scene and collaborated with musicians such as Elvin Jones, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, and Chick Corea. In 1968, Vitouš formed his own band, which released two groundbreaking albums: "Miroslav Vitous Quartet" (1969) and "Under Wraps" (1970). These records showcased his distinctive compositional style, blending European classical music with American jazz. His seminal work, "Jazz Composers Orchestra Arcs," released in 1972, is a testament to his innovative spirit and ability to orchestrate complex arrangements for large ensembles. Throughout his career, Vitouš has continued to push the boundaries of jazz music, collaborating with artists from various genres while maintaining a deep connection to his Czech roots. His contributions to modern jazz have solidified his place as a key figure in the development of the genre.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Music is a language that doesn't speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions, and if it's a true language, it's universal."

Miroslav Vitouš suggests that music is not confined to specific words or verbal language; instead, it communicates through feelings and emotions. This universal form of expression transcends linguistic barriers as it resonates with all people regardless of their native tongue or culture. In essence, he posits that music is a unique language, capable of expressing complex emotions in a way that words alone may struggle to achieve.


"I think music is a higher form of mathematics; it's pure thought translated into sound."

Miroslav Vitouš, a renowned jazz bassist, views music as an abstract form of mathematical expression. In essence, he suggests that just as mathematics uses logical principles to construct theories and solve problems, music employs similar structural rules to create melodies and harmonies. However, he goes further by stating that this connection transcends the ordinary realm, elevating music to a higher plane, where thoughts are directly translated into audible soundwaves. In other words, he implies that the beauty and complexity of music lies in its ability to distill abstract ideas into tangible sonic experiences, making it an expression of pure thought.


"Improvisation can create something that you never even dreamed of before."

This quote by Miroslav Vitouš highlights the power and unpredictability of improvisation, a creative process where an artist responds spontaneously to a given situation or stimulus without prior planning. The beauty of improvisation lies in its ability to generate unique and unexpected outcomes that surpass the limitations of preconceived ideas and dreams. In essence, it serves as a reminder that the greatest discoveries often come from taking risks and stepping outside of one's comfort zone.


"Jazz is not just playing the notes, but making the notes play you."

Miroslav Vitouš's quote encapsulates the essence of true jazz improvisation. It suggests that a skilled jazz musician doesn't merely play a premeditated sequence of notes; rather, they allow their music to flow spontaneously from within them, as if the notes themselves are guiding their performance. In other words, instead of controlling the music, the music controls them, resulting in a deeply emotive and authentic expression of self.


"Every note, every chord has a certain feeling attached to it, and I try to choose them in a way that creates a certain atmosphere or mood."

This quote by Miroslav Vitouš highlights the emotional depth he infuses into his music composition. By carefully selecting each note and chord, he crafts an atmospheric or mood-evoking musical experience for listeners. It implies a deep understanding of the evocative power of music, as well as his intention to use that power purposefully in his work.


I did extensive, extensive recordings and made a classical CD-ROM set, which is still on the market. For ten years, it was by itself as the cream of the crop of samples.

- Miroslav Vitous

Still, Set, Which, Extensive

There is no roles. No one is keeping any roles. The drummer is also answering everybody and everything. So it is a constant conversation and communication between musicians on an extremely high level with extremely valuable material, motifs, and melodies.

- Miroslav Vitous

Everybody, High Level, Conversation

There was the best teachers from the Czech Philharmonic, highly dedicated people, some of the best musicians in the world passing on the knowledge about the country, about the principles, and about the music.

- Miroslav Vitous

Country, Some, Dedicated, Passing

But I have returned to one hundred percent playing this year. I am fully back to playing full time.

- Miroslav Vitous

Year, Back, Hundred, Fully

I actually met Chick Corea in New York, where I was staying with a bass player friend.

- Miroslav Vitous

New, Staying, Chick, Bass Player

I am more of a solo bass player and he needed somebody who would keep the role.

- Miroslav Vitous

More, Role, Needed, Bass Player

So the whole basis for jazz music is based on the fact that the bass player could not play his instrument.

- Miroslav Vitous

Play, Fact, Based, Bass Player

So our ears got used to listening to jazz in the place that it was that the bass player could not play. No one really realized it and really addressed it until the bass players who could play their instrument came along and started doing something with it.

- Miroslav Vitous

Play, Doing, Jazz, Bass Player

I thought it was time to get a group together and the first person I thought of was Wayne Shorter. I called Wayne and in the meantime, Wayne called me to make an album with him, which was Super Nova.

- Miroslav Vitous

Thought, Album, Which, Meantime

Miles Davis had me play and he hired me the following week and after that, everything broke wide open.

- Miroslav Vitous

Play, Week, Broke, Hired

They taught us because they wanted to pass the knowledge on and educate young musicians. It was not because they had to teach because they failed as musicians. There is a huge difference in the reasons why someone is teaching and what they can offer and what they cannot offer.

- Miroslav Vitous

Reasons, Huge Difference, Educate

That was really so upsetting when you are trying to pass on some very serious knowledge and be basically, treated worse than a student coming off the street because his father pays the tuition. Come on. Give me a break. This is no school. This is a joke.

- Miroslav Vitous

Student, Some, Very, Pays

I continued studying by myself in the field of jazz with my own technique of improvisation, walking bass lines, rhythms, all kinds of stuff, which I created for myself.

- Miroslav Vitous

Studying, Rhythms, Which, Improvisation

I am touring in Europe. I am putting together a trio and a quartet. I am playing solo concerts with my symphonic sounds. I am very much engaged back to playing and recording and everything.

- Miroslav Vitous

Engaged, Very, Putting, Solo

I had a vision how it should sound and I put all my knowledge into this product and it is a fantastic product. People still tell me that I have the best musical thing there.

- Miroslav Vitous

Product, Still, Musical, Fantastic

So I am one of those bass players who can do something and musically, it was back then and now it is even more, if you noticed on the new album, I am not playing all the time anymore.

- Miroslav Vitous

Now, Back, Anymore, Musically

I am a Slavic musician and it is deeply inside of me.

- Miroslav Vitous

I Am, Me, Deeply, Musician

I basically started playing violin at the age of six. That lasted about three years because my previous teacher died and the second teacher didn't really know how to successfully get me going.

- Miroslav Vitous

Three, About, Died, Successfully

I was very much fascinated with the technology we had that we could edit in the computer our compositions, but all the sounds that were available on the market were crap.

- Miroslav Vitous

Could, Very, Edit, Crap

The money in the schools overpowers the principles of the purpose.

- Miroslav Vitous

Money, Purpose, Schools, Principles

The main thing that those two albums have in common aside from my music, which of course, a sense of it, you can recognize, it is that the bass on Infinite Search was playing much, much less like a bass.

- Miroslav Vitous

Main Thing, Which, Albums, Bass

I took it very seriously and got very far with it. I was pretty much on a high level when I arrived.

- Miroslav Vitous

Pretty, Very, Took, High Level

I was pretty much prepared because I was already playing in extremely good ways when I arrived from Europe because I played jazz four or five years before I arrived here.

- Miroslav Vitous

Here, Pretty, Before, Jazz

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.