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Victor Lemonte Wooten: Show of Hands

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Compass Records
Released: 1996.02.20
Time:
 44:44
Category: Jazz
Producer(s): Victor Lemonte Wooten
Rating: *********. (9/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.victorwooten.com
Appears with: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Purchase date: 2001.10.26
Price in €: 14,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] U Can't Hold No Groove... (Wooten) - 4:08
[2] More Love (Wooten) - 3:28
[3] Lotta Stuffis? - 0:12
[4] The Vision (Wooten) - 5:35
[5] Overjoyed (Wonder) - 2:56
[6] Live for Peace (Wooten) - 0:05
[7] A Show of Hands (Wooten) - 5:27
[8] Not Like the Other (Wooten) - 0:41
[9] Justice (Wooten) - 4:01
[10] Medley (Churchill/Garner/Gillespie/Morey/Paparelli) - 4:30
      Some Day My Prince Will Come
      Misty
      A Night in Tunisia
      Vix Blues
[11] Radio W-00-10 (Wooten) - 0:27
[12] Classical Thump (Wooten) - 4:38
[13] Keep Chargin' (Wooten) - 0:25
[14] Me & My Bass Guitar (Wooten) - 5:14
[15] Words of Wisdom (Wooten) - 3:09

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


VICTOR LEMONTE WOOTEN - Bass, Arranger, Vocals, Voices, Producer

WILL LEE - Vocals
MALCOLM X - Vocals, Voices
KURT STOREY - Vocals, Engineer, Mastering, Mixing
JOE WOOTEN - Vocals
ROY "Future Man" WOOTEN - Vocals, Voices
PARK LAW - Vocals
ELIJAH "Pete" WOOTEN - Vocals, Voices
DOROTHY G. "Mom" WOOTEN - Vocals, Voices
MICHAEL KOTT - Vocals, Voices
AASHID - Vocals
M.L.KING - Vocals, Voices
CORTNEY KNIGHT - Vocals, Voices
BRITNEY KNIGHT - Vocals, Voices
MICHEAL SALEEM - Vocals, Voices
MARK "Zeke" SELLERS - Vocals, Voices

MARK MANDELBAUM - Engineer on [1]
CHRIS MILFRED - Mastering
KEITH ODLE - Mixing
GRIFFIN NORMAN - Design
STEVE LOWERY - Illustrations
MARK TUCKER - Photography

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1996 CS Compass 74231
1996 CD Compass 74231



This is Victor's first solo album. Each song was recorded overdub free on Victor's 4 string bass and sprinkled with the voices of his family and friends, helping to show the different sides of his personality. The album is a continuation of a long time dream to showcase the bass as a complete solo instrument such as the piano or guitar. The classical thump was written in the mid 80's. Part of this was later incorporated into the song Sinister Minister at the end of the bass solo. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Victor's mom can be be heard on "Words of Wisdom." After the record was mastered Victor got the idea to add vocals to "U Can't Hold No Groove..." You can hear Victor and Will Lee singing on this track. Although the music and most of the vocals were recorded in 3 days, the tape circulated for almost three years before coming out on Compass Records.

FleckTones.com



This is one of the most ambitious albums I have run across. The only instrument on it other than bass guitar is voice. Before you come to a sliding stop, give it a moment and listen to the beauty that comes forth from the speakers. "It won't hold my interest!" you say. "Horse feathers!" say I. This is an album from the heart of a thinking and feeling human, who has so much to give. I was skeptical for about 20 seconds, then I was hooked into it. It is complex/it is simple. It is here/there. Confusing/Straightforward. Straight/Narrow. Big/Small. Top/Bottom. Put it on and open up to the music.

Bob Gottlieb - All Music Guide
© 1992 - 2001 AEC One Stop Group, Inc.



Victor Wooten is the bassist for Bela Fleck's band, and, much like Mr. Fleck playing the banjo, he straddles the fine line between wankery and virtuosity on his debut, A Show Of Hands. Generally coming down on the right side, A Show.., showcases Wooten's astounding speed, technique and harmonic invention. The only instrument heard on the record is his un-overdubbed four-string bass guitar - he tends to play melody, accompaniment, ornament and rhythm parts separately but simultaneously. Wooten transcends the Seinfeld-theme-music chasm of solo funk bass by creating an endless stream of bouncing, complex effects, using techniques ranging from hammer-ons to microphone placement (!). The amazing stereo effects on the title track that make you feel like you're inside the bass. hearing the fretboard on one side and plucking on the other. What we'd really like to hear is lengthy improvisations from Wooten, without the sometimes-cringe-worthy vocals here: He takes a neglected solo instrument and gives it solidity, strength, and a place of its own.

Robin Edgerton and Douglas Wolk: CMJ New Music Report Issue: 476 - May 27, 1996
© 1978-2001 College Media, Inc., Inc. All Rights Reserved.



On his first album, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones bassist Victor Lemonte Wooten goes truly solo, with all music created on a single, four-stringed Fodera bass, without overdubs. The only additional musicians are from a revolving cast of voices. The album opens up with some good advice which also serves as the title for the song "U Can't Hold No Groove (If You Don't Have No Pocket)." The song showcases Wooten's staggering techniques of syncopated, plucked and hammered arpeggios, which translate into some pretty funky stuff. "More Love" is a reggae-tinged soul lilt, with a "la, la, la"-ing children's chorus. "The Vision" displays Wooten's adeptness at cool, breezy , melodic composition played on the lower strings of the tenor bass, for a jazz guitar flavoring. Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed" is given a similar approach as Wooten fingerpicks the melody with a master's skill. The album's title track mixes a dazzling array of repeated patterning with well-punctuated rhythmic jabs, while "Justice" is a rapped call to arms -- to disarm and gain understanding. "Classical Thump" mixes (as one might expect) equal elements of funk, jazz and classical music for an intriguing hybrid. "Me & My Bass Guitar" is slap bass manifesto and statement of purpose. "World of Wisdom" concludes the album by setting Equal Rights speeches and voiceovers by Wooten and his mom against his laid back playing for a thought provoking ending. [MA 1307]

Lahri Bond (Hadley, MA) - July 15, 1996
Dirty Linen



"Victor Wooten, the astounding bassist of Bela Fleck and the Fleck-tones, has received much praise for his work as a musician and has established himself as one of the best bass guitarists in the world. Now, Victor has recorded a solo album, "A Show of Hands." On this album, Victor Wooten gives his listeners a lesson in life. The album, as Victor puts it, "is about 'life' as I see it." In the middle of each marvelous song, one will hear Victor talking and giving little things to think about. The album itself is one that people can listen to over and over again. It never loses its luster. Whether you're in need of a little advice on life or just want to hear some great music, you will find yourself coming back for more of "A Show of Hands." One of the album's strong points is that Wooten does all the music by himself, taking jazz music to the next level. Additionally, this album has some amazing tracks that make it great. One example is Victor's cover of the Stevie Wonder ballad, "Overjoyed." This song was originally done on a piano and Wooten plays it on a four- stringed bass (instead of the 88 keys on a piano), which is no small task. The third and final positive aspect is that it reminds the listener that there is still "real" music out there. On this album, Wooten gives all his soul to his music which flows throughout the entire album. The one setback of this album is that since it was recorded raw, some of the songs are unfinished. Although they are hard to spot, there are little mistakes, if the listener pays enough attention. Victor Wooten's album is a masterpiece as far as jazz goes. It contains marvelous music that speaks to people as well as a message on life that everyone can take something from. Al-though there are errors, this album is one you will listen to when your are in need of a little boost in you life or a little relaxation...

Review by Ryan D., Nashua, NH
Copyright © 2001 by Teen Ink, The 21st Century and The Young Authors Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.
 

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