Yo, Victa!

[lowfreqgeek]

Well, it's not actually the song "Yo, Victa", but here's some live video from the recent Flecktone's Christmas Tour with Vic playing... a Fodera 6, mostly set to the neck pickup (IMO). The tone is thick and meaty. I'm not sure if I've seen Victor play a 6 much in the last 30+ years I've been listening to him.

 

[Moving Pictures]

Sounds good! I can’t remember him ever playing a 6 but I can’t say I’m surprised.

 

[Lee Moses]

I have to wonder, is he playing that as a tribute to A.J.?

 

[JonathanPDX]

Very cool! I'm also curious if it's an AJ tribute. Vic does play a six in the studio sometimes, for example on the Flecktones song Next, but I have never seen him bring one to a gig.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Very cool! I'm also curious if it's an AJ tribute. Vic does play a six in the studio sometimes, for example on the Flecktones song Next, but I have never seen him bring one to a gig.

I've seen him use Fodera and Compito 5s, and I knew he used a 6 on occasion in the studio, but I don't think I've ever seen video of a live show (Flecktones or otherwise) with a 6, nor have I seen him live with a 6.

 

[Les Fret]

Very cool! I'm also curious if it's an AJ tribute. Vic does play a six in the studio sometimes, for example on the Flecktones song Next, but I have never seen him bring one to a gig.

I have seen some old concert on YouTube of the Flecktones where he used a six string bass for a few songs.

 

[el jeffe bass]

I’m not sure if it was this show but Sierra Hull (mandolin) was playing with the same personnel. Amazing musicianship

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I’m not sure if it was this show but Sierra Hull (mandolin) was playing with the same personnel. Amazing musicianship

Yes, it was the same show. It sounds like she sat in for that particular show because Howard Levy was out sick. Or maybe she was supposed to sit in, anyway, but Howard is the tour bill and wasn't at that show.

 

[el jeffe bass]

I absolutely love and admire Howard Levy, amazing musician and harmonica player in particular. I used to play harmonica in blues bands in New Mexico. It’s a fun instrument and he takes it to a whole different place.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I absolutely love and admire Howard Levy, amazing musician and harmonica player in particular. I used to play harmonica in blues bands in New Mexico. It’s a fun instrument and he takes it to a whole different place.

The first Flecktones show I ever saw was at the El Rey (in ABQ) in 1998. That's a whole story in itself, but of course Howard was out by that time and Jeff Coffin was in. That was amazing on so many levels, but I LOVED Howard's chromatic harp and would've loved to see the original line up.

However, when the original lineup played Taos Brewing Co. in 2019, my wife and I went to see them. Aside from really bad weather, it was fantastic! I'd love to see Jeff AND Howard together.

 

[el jeffe bass]

The first Flecktones show I ever saw was at the El Rey (in ABQ) in 1998. That's a whole story in itself, but of course Howard was out by that time and Jeff Coffin was in. That was amazing on so many levels, but I LOVED Howard's chromatic harp and would've loved to see the original line up.

However, when the original lineup played Taos Brewing Co. in 2019, my wife and I went to see them. Aside from really bad weather, it was fantastic! I'd love to see Jeff AND Howard together.

Dang, the El Rey reference brings back memories. I played the El Rey and Golden West (before the fire) a bunch. My musical partner was friends with Kathy (the owner). Some great times on Central avenue.

 

[el jeffe bass]

Howard can play a diatonic harp chromatically. That’s no easy task

 

[metalstorm]

I believe he mentioned that he has been dealing with focal distonia. He seems to be using some very strange fingerings. Good to see him push through and make great music in spite of it!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Dang, the El Rey reference brings back memories. I played the El Rey and Golden West (before the fire) a bunch. My musical partner was friends with Kathy (the owner). Some great times on Central avenue.

I haven't played El Rey in probably 15 years. I think the last time I played there was opening for Fishbone.

The last show I saw there was Cory Wong a few years ago, with my son. I also ran into one of the 2 guys (and his son) that I saw the Flecktones with in '98. That was pretty cool!

 

[JonathanPDX]

Howard can play a diatonic harp chromatically. That’s no easy task

Howard plays all diatonic harps as far as I know, at least, I've never seen him play a chromatic one. He can play anything in any key on an diatonic harp, though. I attended a master class with him once where he took a standard C harp and played Donna Lee in all 12 keys.

I believe he mentioned that he has been dealing with focal distonia. He seems to be using some very strange fingerings. Good to see him push through and make great music in spite of it!

Yes, Victor has been battling Focal Dystonia for many years. He has to use a lot of unusual techniques and fingerings just to get through a gig, and some days are worse than others so on any given gig you may see him playing things very differently.

 

[pfschim]

Victor is great and the Flecktones are cool. I'm sorry that Howard was not in this video.

I recall seeing Howard play on Lincoln Ave in Chicago (Collettes ??) back in the 70's. I was a full timer then and we would go to Lincoln Ave on "musicians night off" (Sun) to the small clubs to hear other guys play, and where you were pretty much right next to him when he did his thing. He would play with cats like Steve Rodby (pre Pat Metheny), Ernie Denov, Bill Lanphier (bass) and other killer players of that place and time. Howard was also a killer pianist as well. Astonishing musician!

good times!

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Yes, it was the same show. It sounds like she sat in for that particular show because Howard Levy was out sick. Or maybe she was supposed to sit in, anyway, but Howard is the tour bill and wasn't at that show.

Yeah, I saw some of that yesterday evening. Great show. She made a great Flecktonette!

 

[jholling]

Not bass related, but the sax player in the group right now is Jeff Coffin. I got to meet him a couple of years ago at a jazz festival where he critiqued my jazz ensemble. He was fantastic and had great words of encouragement for my young sax players. Absolute class act and a fantastic musician. He played a gig later in the evening and blew us away. I would love to hear this group live!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Not bass related, but the sax player in the group right now is Jeff Coffin. I got to meet him a couple of years ago at a jazz festival where he critiqued my jazz ensemble. He was fantastic and had great words of encouragement for my young sax players. Absolute class act and a fantastic musician. He played a gig later in the evening and blew us away. I would love to hear this group live!

Jeff has been with the Flecktones for almost 30 years. When I saw him the first time in 1998, he was the first sax player I'd ever seen play 2 horns simultaneously while harmonizing with himself. I also got to meet him at that show (and Victor), and he was super cool, kind, and gracious then, too.

 

[Michedelic]

Jeff has been with the Flecktones for almost 30 years. When I saw him the first time in 1998, he was the first sax player I'd ever seen play 2 horns simultaneously while harmonizing with himself. I also got to meet him at that show (and Victor), and he was super cool, kind, and gracious then, too.

The dual horn(sometimes three, plus flute)technique came to prominence with blind jazz player Rahsaan Roland Kirk…


He was a major influence on Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. Another Brit who took up Kirk’s technique in the 60’s was Dick Heckstall-Smith, who played with a wide variety of people and bands…Graham Bond, Jack Bruce, John Mayall, Colosseum…


Kirk was at that particular gig as well…