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Vitold Rek

When, in 1969, “Polskie Radio“ (Polish Radio) broadcast a jazz concert with Oscar Peterson on the piano and Ray Brown on the double bass a 14-year-old boy by the name of Vitold Rek was listening to his radio in a little room in the east Polish town of Rzeszów. He was so fascinated by the music of the two Jazz stars that he made a momentous decision – to play the double bass in a jazz combo. Almost 50 years later he can be heard on over 100 recordings and can look back on concerts with the greatest stars in the world. He also teaches the double bass in a German music school.

Highly concentrated and attentive to what he is playing - Vitold Rek with his double bass, holding his bow. His virtuoso use of the bow is one of his trademarks. The photo was taken at the “Just Music” Jazz festival in Wiesbaden (2014).
Highly concentrated and attentive to what he is playing - Vitold Rek with his double bass, holding his bow. His virtuoso use of the bow is one of his trademarks. The photo was taken at the “Just Music” Jazz festival in Wiesbaden (2014).
©
Photo: Rüdiger Laske

Discography (a selection):

 

Giancarlo Nicolai - La sorvegliane del tempo (Altrisuoni 2008)

HR-Bigband - unauffällige festansage (jazzwerkstatt 2008)

Emil Mangelsdorff Quartett - Blues Forever (Bellaphon, 2007)

Tomasz Stańko - 1970-1975-1984-1986-1988 (Metal Mind 2008)

Vitold Rek & EastWestWind - Zuhause (2007 Taso)

Charlie Mariano & Vitold Rek feat. Peter Reiter - Kathedrale vol. 1 (Taso 2005)

Charlie Mariano & Vitold Rek - opus absolutum (Taso 2003)

Johann P. Tammen & Vitold Rek - Die Erde, sing das Brot (Taso 2003)

Die polnische Folk Explosion (Taso 2002)

John Tchicai, Vitold Rek, Karl Berger - 2 x 2 (Taso 2001)

Vitold Rek - Bassfiddle alla polacca (Taso 1999)

East West Wind - Live at the St. Ingbert Jazz Festival 1997 (Taso 1998)

Fritz Hartschuh Quartett - Das Erik Satie Projekt (Konnex 1998)

Vitold Rek with Elvira Plenar - "Elvira Plenar (Bellaphon 1994)

Vittold Rek with Peter Giger – Jazzz (B+W 1993)

John Tchicai & Vitold Rek - "Art Of The Duo" Vol.1 (Enja 1993)

John Tchicai -"Satisfaction" (Enja 1992)

Family of Percussion & Friends - Mozambique Meets Europe (B+W 1993)

Family of Percussion & Friends - Family Jewels (Jazz Network 1992)

Stan Soyka - "Acoustic" (Zic-Zac1991)

Olga Szwajgier -  Condemned To Life (Muza 1987)

Vitold Rek (solo) - The Spark (Poljazz 1986)

Basspace - Basspace 555555 (Muza 1985)

Basspace – Basspace (Poljazz 1984)

 

Brief biography

 

18th October 1955      born in Rzeszów

From 1963      accordion at the Rzeszów Music School

From 1965      guitar at the Rzeszów Music School

From 1969      double bass at the Rzeszów Music School

From 1971      double bass at the Chopin Grammar School in Kraków

1975                prize winner at the Jazz nad Odrą Festival

1978                Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw

1982                completes his studies at the Music Academy in Kraków

1986 and 1988 winner in the double bass category of the magazine “Jazz Forum”

1999                Jazz working stipendium from the city of Frankfurt am Main

2000                teacher at the Academy of Music and Performing Art in Frankfurt am Main and at the Music High School in Mainz.

2010                artistic head of the JIF Jazz Festival in Frankfurt am Main

 

Vitold Rek lives and works in Offenbach am Main. Now he describes himself with a broad grin of satisfaction as a self-styled “Hessian”.

Highly concentrated and attentive to what he is playing - Vitold Rek with his double bass, holding his bow. His virtuoso use of the bow is one of his trademarks. The photo was taken at the “Just Music” Jazz festival in Wiesbaden (2014).
©
Photo: Rüdiger Laske
Media library

  • Award-giving ceremony for the Hessian Jazz Prize in 2013

    The double bass player Vitold Rek at the award-giving ceremony for the Hessian Jazz Prize in 2013. He is holding his certificate in his hand.

  • Vitold Rek

    Vitold Rek and his instrument in 1992.

  • Vitold Rek and his instrument in 1992.

    Vitold Rek and his instrument in 1992.

  • Vitold Rek - Radio play by "COSMO Radio po polsku" in English

    In cooperation with "COSMO Radio po polsku" we present radio plays on selected topics of our portal.

  • Wywiad z Adamem Gusowskim

    Wywiad z Adamem Gusowskim
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