This quartet was the primary context for the Czech bassist Miroslav Vitous’s creativity in the late 70s and early 80s. “Like Mingus, Vitous is a real leader from the bass, and the music is all the stronger for it” – Gramophone. With three excellent writers in the line-up (John Surman and John Taylor as well as the leader) the quartet had an abundance of material to draw upon. Journey’s End includes “U Dunaje U Prešpurka” which Miroslav had played with the Junior Trio with Jan Hammer, as well as Surman’s Thomas Hardy-inspired ballad “Tess”, and Taylor’s “Windfall”. Collective improving capacities are to the fore on “Carry On, No. 1” which builds on the template of Jon Christensen’s drum patterns. Recorded 1982.
