Vitold Rek


Vitold Rek is a double bassist, composer and music educator. He studied classical double bass at the Academy of Music in Kraków when Krzysztof Penderecki was rector there. His playing "unites jazz influences with classical and East European folk elements", with a focus on live performance and composition.

Career

Rek's festival appearances include Montreux Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz, Willisau Jazz Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival, ISB Double Bass Convention USA, Mexico Jazz Festival, Banlieus Bleues Festival in Paris and the Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw among many others. Concerts have taken him also to Mozambique, Cuba and Mexico. He has performed in the Purcell Room in London and in the Paris Olympia.
Charlie Mariano, John Tchicai, Albert Mangelsdorff, Karl Berger, Vladislav Sendecki, Tomasz Stanko, Günter Baby Sommer, Dom Um Romao, Peter Giger, Emil Mangelsdorff, Gerd Dudek, Heinz Sauer, Ralf Hübner, Bob Degen, Christof Lauer, Makaya Ntshoko and Shlomo Carlebach have featured among his key musical partners. He collaborates with the Frankfurt Radio HR Jazz Ensemble.
Vitold also enjoys his work with German writers, combining spoken poetry with his own solo performance. He works closely with the poet Johann P. Tammen and other partners have included Volker Braun, Oskar Ansull, Sarah Kirsch and Kito Lorenc.
He teaches jazz double bass and coaches ensembles at both the Hochschule für Musik, Mainz and the Hochschule für Musik, Frankfurt.
In 2008 Vitold Rek was honored twice: with Tomasz Stanko’s 5-CD album "1970-1975-1984-1986-1988" - Platinum Prize in Poland - and with Emil Mangelsdorff’s CD "Blues Forever" - Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik 2008 in Germany.
In November 2008 Vitold Rek performed as soloist the premiere of Jazz Concerto Grosso for double bass, flute and symphony orchestra during the Polish Chamber Music Festival in Warsaw.

Discography

  • Flyin’ Lady - Jan Pt. Wroblewski Quartet ; 1978
  • Live at Aquarium - Sunship ; 1979
  • Follow us - Sunship ; 1979
  • Tomasz Stanko - Tomasz Stanko ; 1982
  • Musik '81 - Tomasz Stanko ; 1982
  • C.O.C.X. - Tomasz Stanko ; 1983
  • Lady Go - Tomasz Stanko ; 1984
  • Freelectronic - Tomasz Stanko ; 1986
  • Peyotl - Tomasz Stanko ; recorded 1986
  • Freelectronic: The Montreux Performance - Tomasz Stanko ; 1987
  • Basspace - Vitold Rek Basspace ; 1984
  • Basspace 555555 - Vitold Rek Basspace ; 1985
  • The Spark - Solo ; 1986
  • Condemned To Life - V.R. mit Olga Szwajgier ; 1987
  • Family Jewels - Family of Percussion & Friends ; 1988
  • Acoustic - Stan Soyka ; 1991
  • Satisfaction - John Tchicai, Vitold Rek ; 1991
  • POPendingEYE - Alfred 23 Harth's Quasar Quartet ; 1993
  • Art Of The Duo Vol.1 John Tchicai, Vitold Rek ; 1993
  • Jazz - with Peter Giger and Gerd Dudek B+W 029 GB); 1993
  • Mozambique Meets Europe - Family of Percussion & Friends ; 1993
  • Elvira Plenar-Vitold Rek - with Elvira Plenar ; 1994
  • Mondspinner - with Christof Lauer & Ralf Hübner ; 1996
  • On Remote Patrol - with Michael Baird ; 1996
  • Das Erik Satie Projekt - Fritz Hartschuh Quartet ; 1998
  • East West Wind - Live at the St. Ingbert Jazz Festival 1997, Germany
  • Bassifiddle alla polacca - Vitold Rek Solo - double bass, vocals ; 1997 & 1998
  • John Tchicai, Vitold Rek, Karl Berger - 2 x 2 ; 2002
  • Charlie Mariano & Vitold Rek - opus absolutum ; 2005
  • East West Wind - Home featuring Jaroslaw Bester & Ramesh Shotham ; 2007
  • Emil Mangelsdorff Quartet "Blues Forever"
  • Hessischer Rundfunk Jazzensemble "Unauffällige Festansage" with Albert Mangelsdorff, Christof Lauer, Ralf Hübner,Heinz Sauer, Emil Mangelsdorff, Joki Freund
  • Tomasz Stanko "1970-1975-1984-1986-1988" ; 2008