Universal Syncopations
Studio album by Miroslav Vitouš
Released	September 29, 2003[1]
Recorded	2002 & March 2003
Studio	Universal Syncopation Studios, Italy (2002) Rainbow Studios, Oslo (2003)
Genre	Jazz
Length	53:32
Label	ECM ECM 1863
Producer	Manfred Eicher
Miroslav Vitouš chronology
Atmos (1993) Universal Syncopations (2003) Universal Syncopations II (2007)

Universal Syncopations is an album by Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš recorded between 2002–2003 and released on ECM later that year.^[2]

Reception

Thom Jurek of AllMusic states "Universal Syncopations is by turns a return to not the old forms, but rather to the manner of illustrating harmonic concepts in a quintet setting that allows for a maximum space between ensemble players while turning notions of swing, counterpoint, and rhythmic invention on their heads... Universal Syncopations is one of the most gorgeous sounding and toughly played dates of the calendar year."^[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Miroslav Vitouš except as indicated.

1. "Bamboo Forest" - 4:37
2. "Univoyage" - 10:54
3. "Tramp Blues" - 5:19
4. "Faith Run" - 4:58
5. "Sun Flower" - 7:21
6. "Miro Bop" - 4:03
7. "Beethoven" (Jan Garbarek, Vitouš) - 7:18
8. "Medium" (Jack DeJohnette, Vitouš) - 5:09
9. "Brazil Waves" (Garbarek, Vitouš) - 4:26

Personnel

• Miroslav Vitouš – double bass
• Jan Garbarek – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
• Chick Corea – piano
• John McLaughlin – guitar
• Jack DeJohnette – drums
• Wayne Bergeron – trumpet (tracks 2-4)
• Valery Ponomarev – trumpet, flugelhorn (tracks 2-4)
• Isaac Smith – trombone (tracks 2-4)

Chart performance