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Rootin' for Victor Wooten |
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Written by Glenn BurnSilver
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Thursday, 26 April 2007 |
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 Victor Wooten can rightly be considered one of today’s foremost bass players.
His playing can be found on numerous funk, soul, jazz, rock, bluegrass and alternative recordings. Much of his time is spent in the genre-bending bluegrass/psycho-space outfit The Flecktones, fronted by banjo player Bela Fleck.
Yet, when The Flecktones take a break, Wooten doesn’t hesitate to do his own thing, which revolves around — of course — his mighty bass.
“It’s all related because we are talking about music and it is all more similar than different, because the real common denominator to each situation is me,” Wooten explained during a phone interview.
“There are going to be some similarities to each situation, but since I like to try and be musically broad, having different situations to play in allows me to express different parts of myself.”
For all his technical prowess on the bass (yes, he really can play like the eight-armed monster he portrays on the cover of “Soul Circus”), Wooten remains modest about his abilities.
“I mainly just try to be a musician. That leaves it open. I don’t just have to be a jazz musician, or a blues musician, a rock musician or a funk musician. I just try to be a musician. Then I can be open to anything. I want to be open to any style of music.”
Still, he doesn’t hesitate to give credit where due, namely those bass players who paved the way for him, like Jaco Pastorious, Stanley Clarke and Ray Brown. Many of the “low-end masters” are name dropped in “Victa” (from “Soul Circus”), but he’s not just trying to be cool.
Rather, his intent is to create a little recognition for the many bass players that provided his inspiration but aren’t so well known.
“I realize most of them don’t get any acknowledgement or recognition. I wouldn’t be the Victor Wooten that I am if not for all the guys that came before me,” he said. “I’m standing on a lot of bass player’s shoulders.”
Speaking of shoulders … Wooten has developed a trademark concert move, tossing the bass repeatedly over his shoulder at high speed while somehow still playing.
It’s a move he surprisingly learned by watching a video of Cinderella bassist Eric Brittingham.
Wootens’ brother Regi told Wooten about a video with Brittingham slinging the bass over his shoulder. Wooten waited all day for the video to air, then watched intently.
“That was the spark that got me into those crazy bass gymnastics,” he confirmed.
Of course mastering the technique was not without a few bumps and bruises — to both person and instrument — including a cracked head on one bass and a few bumps to his own head. Still, it keeps the audience that much more engaged.
“A good performance makes the music sound better,” he added. “I have to remember I am putting on the show — I am an entertainer.”
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TO GO TO THE SHOW
Friday, April 27
Doors 8 p.m., Showtime 9 p.m.
Aggie Theatre
204 S. College Ave.
482.8300
$22.50
With Three Peas
www.victorwooten.com
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WHICH ONE'S TITO?
Like the Jacksons, the Wooten’s also had a family band made up of five brothers. In this case, Victor was the youngest and was forced to play bass — beginning as a 3 year old. By age 5 he was performing professionally and touring across the country with the Wooten Brothers Band, including opening slots for Curtis Mayfield and War. The band still gets together occasionally.
BASS IS THE PLACE
Want to learn a cool lick or two? Victor Wooten provides free lessons on his Web site. Wooten also offers some interesting words of wisdom. Check them out.
Glenn BurnSilver
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