Customer Reviews

Show of Hands

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm 12. I play bass. I'm not very good. Victor Wooten is a huge inspiration to me, though, to 'keep chargin'. (it's in track 13)


Anyway, once you listen to a crazy track like Classical Thump, you'll wonder how many bassists are playing on the album. It's surprisingly only Victor and four strings. (I really wish I had gone to see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones when I had the chance. But I guess this is the next best thing to seeing Vic live.) I like the medley of jazz standards, the title track, a very nice cover of Overjoyed, The Vision, U Can't Hold No Groove, and More Love; they are all very well made tracks with a raw-sounding feel to it.

So why is it 4 stars instead of 5?

When I got this, I looked forward to 15 tracks of nothing but Victor's bass, because I heard he was spectacular. The problem is, some of the tracks are a few seconds long of useless stuff. Like Radio W-00-10, what is that? I felt I was ripped off as I only had half the tracks of actual music. But, the actaul songs are so good that I didn't mind the other junk.

So, in conclusion, this is an album you will be hooked on. He is probably the greatest bassist in the world. If you say otherwise; think of this; can you fathom a better bassist than Victor Wooten? Most likely not; he is awesome.

Get this;

if you play bass
if you like bass
if you like Victor Wooten
if you like Bela Fleck
if you like great music
if you like music with a raw feel played by one guy and four strings
if you want to know the greatest bassist ever
if you've seen Bela Fleck live

-and-

if you want to hear a spectcular music experience.

The opening lines on this CD are spoken: "Yo, Victor. What's ever you do I wantcha to remember this here. You can't hold no groove if you ain't got no pocket." Well, straight out of the gate, this CD shows us that Victor Wooten clearly CAN hold a groove with an amazingly phat pocket!

Yes, these are all bass compositions - 1 four-string and no overdubs. Of course, Wooten does what few bassists have been able to do, and that is to turn the bass into a full-fledged melody instrument. I can't tell you how many times, for instance, I've played this disc for non-musician friends and had them curiously ask: "Is all that really on the bass?" Well....yup!

The only problem I really have with this disc is that while most of the songs are melodic and tight enough as songs to please both the musician and non-musician, there are a few on here that seem to have little purpose but to show off virtuosity. The title track "A show of hands" and "classical thump" are technically blistering enough to please the bss officianado, but will not likely appeal to the non-bass players.

The only other quick note is that Victor is so good on the funky tracks ("Can't Hold No Groove" and "Me and My Bass Guitar") that it is a shame there are no more than two up-beat funky tracks on this disc. I can't deduct a star for this, though, because even though many of the songs tend towards the slower, more smooth style, even those tracks are quite strong.

Good CD, all in all.

I recently saw Wooten with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and it was a truly amazing show. But the thing that stood out the most on the night was Wooten's unbelievable bass playing. He was one of the main reasons I went to the show. He blew the place away. I immediately went out and bought this cd along with his double cd "Yin Yang". He is truly a master of his craft.
He acknowledges many great bass players in his credits for their influence. Included are Bootsy Collins, Stanley Clarke, Steve Bailey, Oteil Burridge and many others bass greats. Their influences are certainly apparent in his playing. But Victor takes it to another level. He is without a doubt one of the best if not the best bass player in the world.
From the opening track on the cd "U Can't Hold No Groove" he takes you on an unbelievable bass experience. He also covers Stevie Wonders' "Overjoyed" and does a medley of songs on the track aptly called "Medley". It starts with "When you wish upon a Star" and goes on to various other classics. It's wonderfully done.
His bass playing is a mix of jazz, funk, r&b and a variety of other styles. It's soulful, melodic, funkadelic and very heartfelt. Hear the master at work. Get this disc!

I had not listened to Wooten prior to buying this album. I kept hearing references to his greatness by other bassists, but who could blame me for neglecting to check out a band with such a lame name as "Bela Fleck and the Flecktones"?

Previously, I would have said "Best Bassist of all time" honors would have to be shared between Jaco and Stanley, but this CD completely changed my mind. My admiration of Jaco and Stanley stemmed from their completely changing the way their instrument was played and clearly, Victor is doing the same. I am simply floored that the 4-string bass can be played this way. I must completely rethink my approach to this instrument, which is what truly great musicans force you to do.

I don't know that I would necessarily agree in calling Vic the "Jaco of funk." Not that he is not deserving of such praise, Jaco was indeed "funky" from Weather Report to the early solo stuff. But Victor, like Jaco pushed musicians and critics to the wall and screamed at them to take notice. Victor is a 2nd generation pioneer in the truest sense of the word. From his "double-thumb" technique to his subtle laid-back grooves on Flecktones albums, to his absolutely virtuosic soloing ability (I usually take offense to the use of the word virtuoso but in this case is entirely justified) he has moved a "backup" instrument to a forefront, vanguard position and not without absolute class and flourish.

Victor Wooten is the greatest bass player alive and is matched only by his charm and modesty in person. This album is a showcase of bass acrobatics, simple-time groove, and the power of potential which the mainstream has decided to overlook.

This album is absolutely amazing. Victor Wooten is the absolute best bass player to ever live. Nothing I can say will persuade you to buy this if you don't appreciate great talent. From the first track to the final all you hear is phenomenal hands making the most beautiful notes come out of a bass guitar.

My favorite track is "Classical Thump" it is just hard to believe that someone is capable of creating such speed with their hands and when you see him do it he flows with such ease across the neck and strings with extreme fluentry(sp) of motion.

...how Victor Wooten is able to create a more funky, more fluid and more natural groove with one bass guitar than most groups can all their instruments put together. In fact, there's no other instruments on this entire album but a bass guitar and occasional vocals.

Needless to say, this music is absolutely unique and if you ask me, wonderful. I find these songs just dripping of atmosphere and soul. The music consists mostly of beautiful melodies and the already mentioned great rhythms. Of course there's also some CRAZY chops played at the speed of light and you can call me crazy but I find it just as pleasant to listen to as any other music on the album.

What most people don't necessarily understand is you DON'T have to be a bass player to enjoy this album (or any of Victa's albums for that matter). You don't have to be a fan of jazz-music either. I know I'm not a bass player OR a big jazz-fan but time after time I find myself picking up this album from my CD shelf. Give this album a chance and you might also.

Highly recommended to any music fan.

If you are a fan of the electric bass, then this album is a must-buy. Victor's technical prowess is incredible, his groove is all over the place. I enjoyed every track on the disc. Just one warning, playing this disc loud on road trips may result in speeding tickets, and has induced Four-String cravings in some guitar junkies.

Before I listened to this album, I thought an album of only bass would be cumbersome. At first, I felt it was. But after a few more listens, this album started to grow on me. Victor's playing ability is amazing. He is one of, if not the best bassist I have heard. He also can craft highly listenable and catchy songs that show off his abilities. My favorites are "More Love", "U Can't Hold No Groove", "Classical Thump" and "Overjoyed".

The first time I saw Vic Wooten was during Bela Fleck's Three Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Tour. I was sitting in amazemnet...I never thought someone could play that ggood. There were people sitting next to me that were bass players & were amazed. One guy said to me that he didn't know whether he should go home & play his bass or just throw the thing out the window.
Anyways, A Show of Hands is Vic on bass alone with just some vocals. It's done in 1 take with no overdubs. He seem to combine Stanley Clarke's percussive genius with Jaco Pastorius melodic geniousn the tracks with this album. Also, incorporates a lot of triplets & it sounds like you are hearing 2 to 3 basslines at one time.