A "musicians' musician" is one known primarily as a virtuoso sideplayer rather than an artist in his or her own right. Though such players are usually not household names, major stars utilize their services, and less gifted musicians - especially those who play the same instrument - hold such individuals in awe.
Among electric bassists Victor Wooten stands at the top of the musicians' musician pantheon. He's had a substantial career as an artist, but among music fans he remains best known for his work with Bela Fleck. There may be several reasons for this, but one is the mixed focus of his previous solo work. While the musicianship is never less than stellar, some of the work has been too smooth-jazz for many tastes, while at other times Wooten gets into an 80s pop vibe that has needed more hookier songwriting to pull off.
It's a pleasure to report that, taken a whole, his new CD is his best work yet. Like a lot of virtuoso solo work, it's complex and self-referential, but it's almost never self-indulgent, and it boasts solid songwriting, a modern, accessible sound, and smoothly integrated contributions from various guest artists.
"Victa" is the type of personal statement that will be very familiar to rap fans, introducing the artist and his attitude. "Prayer," one of the disc's very best tracks, has a simple but tasty hook that sticks in the mind; the different time signatures in verse and chorus somehow add to the grooviness. The highly rhythmic "Natives," another top track, features Native American Grammy-winner Bill Miller on vocals, flute and percussion.
A jazzy instrumental cover of Earth, Wind and Fire's "Can't Hide Love" is followed by the fun and funky "Stay," whose verse is in 11/8 time. You might not be able to march to it, but you sure could dance to it. "On and On" features the vocals of guest Saundra Williams, whose extreme laid-backitude works better in the background than in front; the song has a pretty chorus, but more powerful lead vocals would have improved it. (The draggy rap by Arrested Development's Speech, who makes more inspired contributions elsewhere on the album, seems dropped in from nowhere). "Cell Phone" is gimmicky fun, committedly a rap song and featuring cell phone rings actually integrated into the music in an unusually intelligent and pleasurable use of such sound effects.
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
Very nice, I can only aspire to your skills here. I have the disk, but have not yet begun my sampling.... Soon though....
2 - Tom Johnson
I haven't heard this fully, but from the clips I hear on Amazon, I can't believe this could possibly rank anywhere near the heights of beauty and greatness that A Show Of Hands hit. Everything else I've heard of his was considerable steps down from that first album, to the point that they became unlistenably cheesy smooth-jazz and I'm sure hearing a hell of a lot of smooth-jazz pap in the Soul Circus clips.
Victor's at his best with the Flecktones, or on that first solo album. I wish he'd just do his solo thing truly solo - he's a stunning player and needs no accompaniment to make great music (and, in fact, makes better solo music without accompaniment.) File me under: not even remotely interested.
3 - Jon Sobel
Tom - I too would probably not have been interested in this CD on the basis of Amazon clips. This kind of music takes a couple of listens before I get into it. A lot of times I don't get into at all, but in this case I did. I agree, he's such a great player I'd go see him play a totally solo show, if such a thing were to exist!
4 - paul
I thibk you guys are ridiculous to judge an album by snippets. This album is not full of cheesy smooth jazz (closest you may get is the EWF cover) but is a back in the day FUNK album. If you prefer the Flecktones stuff- stay away! Go get more Flecktones albums. This cd has bee in my player non stop- it is a great record across the board - great melody and playing. But it is a FUNK record for the most part- if ya don't lke the funk, don't pick it up. (ok- I have friends who are not funk fanatics- but like much of it- so maybe that is harsh- but so is reviewing things based on download snippets...)
5 - paul
and sorry bout the typos....i hadn't had my coffee yet.
6 - William Lemuel
I think that Soul Circus is one of the most amazing pieces of music I've ever heard. Of course I'm a BIG, BIG, BIG Wooten fan, but still that doesn't take away from the fact that Victor is simply amazing. I hate these guys that come on to tear someone's work down; when they themselves couldn't even come close to it in a thousand years. Of course everybody's at liberty to give their own opinions, and this is mine. He's also a really nice and approachable guy. I meet him at The Guitar Center North in Houston; I knew from the bass manager Charles, that he'd be there for a visit cause the Flecktones were in town. At any rate I was there when he walked in, and I was playing Classical Thump, at least what I could play of it. He walked up and I stopped. He said " Why'd you stop?" I said,," Cause you came in" After he finished with a short clinic, signed some autographs, and talked to a few people; he asked me to play something for him. So I did one of my things , and then played his version of Stevie Wonder's " Overjoyed". I got to this one particular part, and when he saw my technique I used, he said. " Oh man, you're workin way too hard" Then he took my bass and showed me how he actually did it. Now are you ready for the best part? A friend of mine Philip Smith, (who's a pretty nasty bassist in his own right) had his digital camera and snapped off lots of great pictures. I'll send some to anybody who wants to see them. But back to " Soul Circus". There are lot's of great bass players out there, Marcus Miller, Jimmy Hasslip, Bill-Budda-Dickens (who's probably got even more chops than Victor) and many, many others; but none of them can excite me like listening to him. It seems that he comes up with ideas like nobody else. I guess the one downfall it for me personally is, I might be a Victa clone in some ways. But to that I say "Hey most haters crack on it cause they can't do it." I loved it, and think it's his best, and most versitile yet.
7 - Caio
there's no words to discribe how amazing are the wooten's musics !!!
8 - Church
All you have to Say is Victa. The things he does makes my fingers quake. Victa Son, Victa.