Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent album of only bass., February 8, 2005
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.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Lesson in Holdilng a Groove Square in the Pocket!, July 28, 2004
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.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wooten's First Solo Effort is Amazing!, September 2, 2002
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!
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album A Show of Hands 
