Victor Lemonte Wooten

[Plantbrain]

Well, Stu was at the Bass clinic last night in SF al;ong with Micheal Manring.

Damn nice guy, heck of player.
I've seen him going back a ways with his solo projects, many saw him with Joe Satriani ( another sloopy guitarist-haha, not!). I played a 2 years in Jazz band in high school, put it down for about 7 years then saw Stu, I went out and got an Ex Factor a few months later and played and played. I still have an ex factor.

He can do the groove well, then add slap, or solo etc.
But he's hardly ever messed up anything in the live shows, I know every note. He taps, slaps etc. Clean. Excellent tone sound for each note.

His style is very different than Victor's even though they use some of the same techniques. They are so different.

I like both styles personally. They both bring a huge amount of skill and influence to the table.

There is a great deal one can learn from Victor, as there is a great deal that can be learned from Stu or Paul McCartney(probably the richest Bassists) etc. All different.
You cannot compare them(the old Apples and oranges cliche).

BTW,
Both Stu and Micheal Manring are playing locally in the Bay area in Nov at a small little club. I'll be there in the front row.

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If Vic even gets close to the Bay area, I'll be there too(see below).

Les is another Bay area bass nut.
All these guys amaze me.

I cannot critique them(I'm my own worst enemy though), art is not really about that to me. They all offer such positive things to add to the bass. Critics always seem so dag nasally and pretentious. Never liked them or anything about them. Taking a stick bass to them a few times would be very gratifying.

The more I listen to Vic's stuff, Marcus Miller as well, Stanley but of course.......the more I see why those cats dig Victor as well.

They are better critics than I or those clowns that claim to be critics could ever be.

He's even into nature(I'm a plant biologist at UC Davis, Teach Biology etc) so how could I not like this man's path?

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Go meet him and compare him to Steve:

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Then you might be a better judge.

Learn more about the people/bass etc, don't just say some negative drivel.

That brings nothing constructive to the table.
I'm considering going.

I'm definitely going to this show:

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Dang, I got practicing to do.




Tom

 

[rockstarbassist]

Stu is totally underrated.

Monster supporting player who can flash it out with the best of 'em!

 

[BassSlave]

Yes, I love Stu too, but does he groove? I see there are guys here who hates flash and loves groove,but when we talk about groovy players (Victor) who can flash, we get a lot of insults tossed at him, then when we talk about flash players (Stu) who groove...somewhat......

Stu is totally underrated.

Monster supporting player who can flash it out with the best of 'em!

 

[rockstarbassist]

Yes, I love Stu too, but does he groove? I see there are guys here who hates flash and loves groove,but when we talk about groovy players (Victor) who can flash, we get a lot of insults tossed at him, then when we talk about flash players (Stu) who groove...somewhat......

Well I meant oh yeah, he can groove, that's why I added "supporting" but could've clarified. Now I did!

 

[BellBottomBlues]

I've heard Jauqo play several times over the last 10 yrs., and Yes, he can Play. 'Seen him doing bass demos at NAMM Shows for endorsements, etc. He's got credits.

I personally like Jauqo's playing a lot more than Wooten's and I wish he were a lot more well known to the public than he is now (sorta like the household name Wooten is becoming) He combines technicality with soulful music.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

I hope I don't get shot for that one

 

[Oratorio]

Check this out guys:



Stu doing a solo spot on Satriani's show. I think it's awesome, but find the crowd kind of annoying; they should just listen and be in awe, is what I think Such a melodic and nice arrangement he plays here. I should get around learning it, would be nice to play pretty much everywhere.

 

[Plantbrain]

But picking on Victor vs Stu?
Does seem weird. Not sure why, maybe sour grapes due to the accolades, but Victor has backed it up many times.

Victor takes risk, offers up some great stuff, the level is very very high for that bar. Some have a more rigid expectation. If you can play at that level or better/even close, you really can comment on it as Beavor and JAUQO III-X have. If you can play at Stu's level, then you can comment or at least pull off some of the riffs.

Took me awhile, but the 1st song on Stu's Radio Free album has a really nice groove part and guitar solo, then moves into a nice funky thing and then back to a nice tap. Folks think you are great when you do that tap intro.

I'm very close to the Linus and Lucy theme, and a long long way off for several of Victor's songs. But I'll get there....and be happier when I do. I need to make a list of Victor songs and sit down and start in on them. Write them down on a note book and keep it nearby.

JAUQO III-X might put together a "cool how to" series?
I'll nab the CD.

As I like to say in my professional field: it's good to learn from experience, as long as it's not your own. A good teacher will teach the same material but with less effort than a bad one.

Tom

 

[slugworth]

He has amazing skills getting those drums going through his hands like that...and then he sings while he does it!

The dude is just a freak, he's way....out there. I've never seen anything like him except maybe for Othello Molineaux ripping it up on pans. Put those two together on tape & it would be the musical freak show of the century, in a good way. Totally mind blowing. Maybe it's just me, but I haven't been listening to many bass player records these days. Bass innovation IMHO has kinda stalled.

 

[slugworth]

But picking on Victor vs Stu?
Does seem weird. Not sure why, maybe sour grapes due to the accolades, but Victor has backed it up many times.

Victor takes risk, offers up some great stuff, the level is very very high for that bar. Some have a more rigid expectation. If you can play at that level or better/even close, you really can comment on it as Beavor and JAUQO III-X have. If you can play at Stu's level, then you can comment or at least pull off some of the riffs.

Took me awhile, but the 1st song on Stu's Radio Free album has a really nice groove part and guitar solo, then moves into a nice funky thing and then back to a nice tap. Folks think you are great when you do that tap intro.

I'm very close to the Linus and Lucy theme, and a long long way off for several of Victor's songs. But I'll get there....and be happier when I do. I need to make a list of Victor songs and sit down and start in on them. Write them down on a note book and keep it nearby.

JAUQO III-X might put together a "cool how to" series?
I'll nab the CD.

As I like to say in my professional field: it's good to learn from experience, as long as it's not your own. A good teacher will teach the same material but with less effort than a bad one.

Tom

Understood, but anybody with ears can be a music critic. Just read a column by Robert Hilburn or anybody else with a pen and an opinion, and most of these cats make a good living writing these articles for the L.A. Times or Rolling Stone, or whatever, and they probably can't even play a single note on any musical instrument. Go figure..

 

[JAUQO III-X]

JAUQO III-X might put together a "cool how to" series?
I'll nab the CD.

I couldn't if my life depended on it,I can't even double thumb so that knocks me completely out of the pic

 

[morf]

Thats ok, to each their own style. You're a "lots of strings" kinda guy, more than Wooten as far as I can tell (dont think I ever actually saw him play anything with over 4 strings actually).

Personally I think if anyone believes that Wooten has no groove, they're either hell of jealous, or they have no clue what groove is. There isn't a single Wooten video I've seen, a single song I've heard, where there is a lack of groove.

Sure, sometimes the clickity clackity gets annoying and he does too much (IMHO anyway), but you just cannot say the man has no groove.

 

[Roofoff]

Funny how every bassist doesn't like every other bassist; especially those with a completely different style from the bassist one happens to be critiquing. Can one play licks like Victor's without a really low, even action? No. I think the trick is to listen to the notes and not the string/fret noise, (unless it's the percussive, rhythmic stuff) He is an amazing bassist. Who has seen the clip with Victor, Marcus Miller and Stanley Clark? Intelligence. They each played a different part/function. Victor played guitar parts, keyboards, harmonized some of Stanley solo lines...Wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[Plantbrain]

Understood, but anybody with ears can be a music critic. Just read a column by Robert Hilburn or anybody else with a pen and an opinion, and most of these cats make a good living writing these articles for the L.A. Times or Rolling Stone, or whatever, and they probably can't even play a single note on any musical instrument. Go figure..

Yep, controversial drivel sells, look at the talking head news channels. Those folks do not believe the manure that emanates from their mouths, they act, they sell, they create conflict.

Sad thing is, some of them, perhaps the troll here, actually starts believing in their own narcissistic baloney.

Folks with the experience may chose(or not) to pound these clowns and expose the the illogical drivel they spout.

The clicks/clacks, well, some folks don't care for it, nothing wrong with that. Some love a huge fat sound, some love the greasy slap, some like the finger guitar solo style stuff, some hate harmonics, but like every master painter, artists etc.........
Each has their area of mastery.

Seems to me, that learning about each and trying out that style, gives the greatest benefit in the artistic sense.

I've not liked the big fat warmer sounds when I was younger. But I was not critical of it, it just was not my thing then. Now I hear new stuff, I want to learn more. I enjoy that warm fat sound now. I have more tools in my tool box. That makes me a more valuable bassist.

Bassically, being open and not placing barriers up, the self imposed closed minded kind, seems to be the best approach.
Seems like a safe assumption.

Victor, at least from what I have seen, read, and plan to do a lot more, enshrines such philosophies.

Regards,
Tom

 

[Tslicebass]

Anyone who has any criticism over victor just doesnt get it. I will admit, i am not to into his thumping. However, after going to his basscamp i can say that he is one of the greats ever. his fingerstyle playing and overall musical approach is brilliant. Anybody who thinks he is over rated or not one of the greats.... apply to the basscamp...anybody can get in, regardless of skill level. It is a life changing expierence. And by the way, Vic is super cool and down to earth, and extremely inspiring

 

[joeyzaza]

He's a great bass player, but who outside of bass players even knows who he is? Would you play Vic Wooten to your girlfriend? I don't think so... Some of his stuff is clever, but nothing stays with you, it's alright for a quick listen, and fun to see them awe inspiring chops, but man, forget the over the top bass playing for a minute, and just give me a good tune that I'm gonna remember. I see these bedroom bassist fanboy kids here get so upset when someone slams the guy, it's kinda embarrasing to read almost.

Most people won't like Vic's music, not because they can't "appreciate" it, or that they can't "understand" it, but because frankly, it's f'king boring in actual fact. In the beginning, a guy looking for inspiration might look at somebody like him and think OMFG THIS DUDE IS GOD, but later, when the wow factor of listening to technically bedazzling stuff wares off, it begins to sound empty.

 

[Baryonyx]

Nice to see Stuart Hamm getting mentioned here, he is without a doubt one of my favourite players. Even moreso than Victor!

 

[Plantbrain]

I couldn't if my life depended on it,I can't even double thumb so that knocks me completely out of the pic

Well, it's been a few since I last posted, but Double thumbing is slowly building speed and I am starting to pick it up. It takes work to get it, I will not kid anyone.

But.......it's a nice option vs a hammer on attack and allows cleaner riffs, more options and I think Victor's argument for using it is good..........to be able to use the thumb like a finger.
You can get those nice quick "clicks".
Give it a go.

Since this thread started, I started to try and learn it.
Even if you do not get it all or master it like Vic, it does lead to other areas that are unique to you.

And Vic is quick to fess........he's far from learning it all either@!
The more you know, the more you realize you don't know much at all, but Vic is still got some cool stuff and folks can learn from him, but it depends on what it is you want to learn.

What is your goal? All groove? Some groove, some funk slap?
Some tap?

Vic seems to do these well.
Vic's goal might not be yours.

Fame does not define mastery of art. There are some upright players that can kick butt, but will never be the least bit famous.

Regards,
Tom

 

[washtub_bass]

clean technique is way over rated, Wooten is the Bass Jesus.

 

[Plantbrain]

He's a great bass player, but who outside of bass players even knows who he is?

How many folks off the street can name one single upright bassists (rare to see flash there)? Does fame define mastery of an art?

Clearly not.......

Would you play Vic Wooten to your girlfriend? I don't think so...

His songs played by me on the bass?
She'd be impressed.

Some of his stuff is clever, but nothing stays with you,

Well, you might have a different goal than Vic or myself.
Norwegian wood is a beautiful song.
Some parts have stayed with me, I listened then went back to try and play.

it's alright for a quick listen, and fun to see them awe inspiring chops, but man, forget the over the top bass playing for a minute, and just give me a good tune that I'm gonna remember.

Okay, Mac the Knife. Count's The Pink Panther theme?
Should you give up the electric bass now or later and switch to upright???

I see these bedroom bassist fanboy kids here get so upset when someone slams the guy, it's kinda embarrasing to read almost.

Your own words do more justice than any comment I can make here.

Most people won't like Vic's music, not because they can't "appreciate" it, or that they can't "understand" it, but because frankly, it's f'king boring in actual fact.

Maybe Vic does not care whether you like it.
He likes to play it.

I sure do not like all his stuff by any means, but some stuff, just like any art or artists, I can find cool stuff. I take that part I do like and learn from it. It's not some "either or", "black and white" world.

In the beginning, a guy looking for inspiration might look at somebody like him and think OMFG THIS DUDE IS GOD, but later, when the wow factor of listening to technically bedazzling stuff wares off, it begins to sound empty.

Hummm........I'd say the more you know and learn, the more you can appreciate.

That does not seem empty at all nor a bad way to look at bass..............I like Mac the Knife as much as I do any techy song. Fusing both together is a really cool thing and is so rare.

I'm not just interested in listening to Vic, I'm interested in learning and playing. I may never get some songs, that's fine, but along the way, you pick up things you can get and add to the tool box that can used in every day bass playing situations.
Now you can define your goals and have plenty of tools to do it the way you want.

Simply liking a techy player does not divorce you from the simple groove parts. Only you can allow such barriers to be placed in your own way.







Regards,
Tom