I beg to differ. I think that Mccartney is waaaaay over-rated as a bassist.
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Victor Lemonte Wooten
- Thread starter Kalyptic
- Start date
I saw vic with mike stern a few years ago, and the most enjoyable parts for me were listening to hold down the pocket during mike's solos... i would've thought he was an incredible bass player from that alone.
have a good listen to the hidden land by bela fleck and the flecktones. it seems as though he's settled into a nice tone and he is sooo creative.
With all due respect, I don't believe Sting or McCartney would even be in line to tune up Victor's ax. Wooten is DANGEROUS!!
- Mar 2, 2006
- 332
- 6
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Sadowsky Basses & Dean Markley Strings
Just for the record, Vic is one of, if not the most humble musician existing. With a talent such as his, he has balanced it in a way to attract others. None of that star struck crappy attitutde, which would be easy for anyone (self included) to fall prey to with a gift like that. I believe it is called yin/yang and he embodies that. I met him when he first played in Chicago and after the gig, I introduced myself with two other guys and after talking he said he wanted to hang out so he handed me his gig bag with Number One (the name of his first Fodera) inside and told us to meet him in the parking lot after he finishes tearing down his gear. When I asked if he trusted me, he looked at me and didn't hesitate saying that he knew I was not going to steal his bass. By the way, the parking lot was about four to five blocks long so how did he know where to find us, but he did and we never said exactly where we were parked. To this day, I rarely trust anyone that I know to handle my basses out of my presence, but Vic has tapped (pun intended) into something deeper. He's the real deal fellas, bass tricks or not, his character speaks as many volumes as the music he plays. There are more musicians out there that have a way to make people feel good and Vic is one of those rareities.
If you really want to try to understand how Vic looks at music and its connection to life and the surrounding world read his book, "The Music Lesson"
I got it after seeing him live and it showed me a really cool way to view music
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
if you are interested
I got it after seeing him live and it showed me a really cool way to view music
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
if you are interested
Yer, On one of vis Dvds he spends about 50% of the time talking about inspiration and whats behind the techniques. He sais that theres no point in being flashy if theres no basic groove. And he proves that in sinister minister, the song has would be really abstract if it werent for the steady groove. But when He is flashy, he still has groove
Yeah, i actualy bought Wootens book after reading a chapter on the bass vault site, and im known to realy dislike Wooten and his music 
it havent arrived yet, but im expecting it sometime this week.
it havent arrived yet, but im expecting it sometime this week.
I really respect Wooten for his technical creativity, and for his approach to music and the bass as a real instrument. I understand why new bassist are totally into him. As a matter of fact, the only local bassist besides me is really into him, probably practicing his thumb-plucking this moment. Not my cup of tea at all (though, if I should say so, I am a slave of Jaco's genious).
I think McCartney is a fantastic bassplayer. I listen to the Beatles now and again, and I always find something good in his basslines. For his time, and where he was coming from, this is really, really good stuff. And you got to hand it to him!! He's no Wooten, no, but does he try to be? Ofcourse not.
And Sting, aw, man! Now there's a cat I dig. Come on man, have you listened to his music? Most of the time his music has great harmonies, and as far as I know, it's all written by him. That's really impressive IMO. Have you listened to "If I ever lose my faith in you"? Yeahyeah, it's a kind of a sappy song but, I love the texturing of the chords and how it all builds up. His bassplaying is, well, okay, it fits. He usually doesn't do anything that is too adventurous, and that's okay. Because his strenght is his music and his voice.
I really believe in what BassSlave says about Victor, though. Just a look at him and he reveals himself as a genuine nice, down to earth guy. And if you read what he has to say, well .. I really, really respect him for it. Most of the time I can't say I enjoy listening to him all that much, but hey ..
The man's got alot to say.
I think McCartney is a fantastic bassplayer. I listen to the Beatles now and again, and I always find something good in his basslines. For his time, and where he was coming from, this is really, really good stuff. And you got to hand it to him!! He's no Wooten, no, but does he try to be? Ofcourse not.
And Sting, aw, man! Now there's a cat I dig. Come on man, have you listened to his music? Most of the time his music has great harmonies, and as far as I know, it's all written by him. That's really impressive IMO. Have you listened to "If I ever lose my faith in you"? Yeahyeah, it's a kind of a sappy song but, I love the texturing of the chords and how it all builds up. His bassplaying is, well, okay, it fits. He usually doesn't do anything that is too adventurous, and that's okay. Because his strenght is his music and his voice.
I really believe in what BassSlave says about Victor, though. Just a look at him and he reveals himself as a genuine nice, down to earth guy. And if you read what he has to say, well .. I really, really respect him for it. Most of the time I can't say I enjoy listening to him all that much, but hey ..
The man's got alot to say.
The thread is interesting with the you tubes and criticisms etc.
I think one can draw their own conclusion then.
I do agree however, by making mistakes, that is how we learn. I watch other people play and think they are so great, then they say I play great etc, I laugh, I always say I suck......
But so does Les Claypool.....another sloppy player?
But if you can play all these techniques, and at this level, then you can critique yourself and others. But if you have not mastered these methods/techniques, I shall not take advice from the ignorant. Anyone can play cleaner and improve, we all have our days.
Drawing comparisons to vastly different musical goals can also be misleading as well. Like Les and Victor... but they a lot closer than Sting, Paul or Bubba's Bluegrass band.
Les has played some of Victor's stuff, perhaps vice versa? Anyone know?
Rather than either or, my way is best, so and so is sloppy etc....it's always seemed to me that you should try and learn and understand each method, whether it's the bass olympics, or sitting back playing the groove only.
Each method allows you to apply it better for more achievable musical goals. We likely all enjoy most styles and aspects of bass. So master each style.method, technique etc. Own that method, make it yours.
I think Victor is great and certainly an influence of mine.
When I see good players, I think "I got a lot more practice to do
And through mistakes I make trying to learn their method/s, I often end up with my own method. So mistakes and risk are good. They can lead to new and dramatic methods as well as your own sound. Think about if Jaco had never done what he did? Gotta learn to get better.
Tom
I think one can draw their own conclusion then.
I do agree however, by making mistakes, that is how we learn. I watch other people play and think they are so great, then they say I play great etc, I laugh, I always say I suck......
But so does Les Claypool.....another sloppy player?
But if you can play all these techniques, and at this level, then you can critique yourself and others. But if you have not mastered these methods/techniques, I shall not take advice from the ignorant. Anyone can play cleaner and improve, we all have our days.
Drawing comparisons to vastly different musical goals can also be misleading as well. Like Les and Victor... but they a lot closer than Sting, Paul or Bubba's Bluegrass band.
Les has played some of Victor's stuff, perhaps vice versa? Anyone know?
Rather than either or, my way is best, so and so is sloppy etc....it's always seemed to me that you should try and learn and understand each method, whether it's the bass olympics, or sitting back playing the groove only.
Each method allows you to apply it better for more achievable musical goals. We likely all enjoy most styles and aspects of bass. So master each style.method, technique etc. Own that method, make it yours.
I think Victor is great and certainly an influence of mine.
When I see good players, I think "I got a lot more practice to do
And through mistakes I make trying to learn their method/s, I often end up with my own method. So mistakes and risk are good. They can lead to new and dramatic methods as well as your own sound. Think about if Jaco had never done what he did? Gotta learn to get better.
Tom
He seems like a really cool guy and he's spent years crafting his art.
Does anyone know where I could hear that recording of him with Mike Stern?
Does anyone know where I could hear that recording of him with Mike Stern?
- Apr 23, 2003
- 725
- 17
- Disclosures
- Artist Relations/Product Specialist: Mesa Boogie
I got Mike to sign it for me when I was visiting Memphis two years ago. He was a great guy, good times. Forgot Wooten played on it though, I should give it another good listen. Just got back from seeing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in Dallas. 
Say what u will about Victor. I will watch him any day. His solo at the end of the first set had the crowd standing on their feet. I may not be the most techincal player out there, but I know what I like and i liked the show.
Say what u will about Victor. I will watch him any day. His solo at the end of the first set had the crowd standing on their feet. I may not be the most techincal player out there, but I know what I like and i liked the show.
