By: David Schultz

Victor Wooten has to be from Mars: human beings simply don't play bass like he does. Typically, the otherworldly bassist can be found playing bass with Bela Fleck as one of the Flecktones, but when not playing with the banjo led collective of eclectic musicians, Wooten bides his time as a musician's musician. Kicking off a wintry Manhattan December, Wooten brought his Soul Circus, which included his older brothers Regi and Joseph, to New York City's Irving Plaza.

Throughout his two hour set, Wooten blithely incorporated his bass into many different styles. Any band relying heavily on their bass player will find their way into light jazz and that's where Wooten began his show. For the most part Wooten kept the show very upbeat, running through the funky, self-affirming "Victa" early in the show, bouncing through a lively "My Life" later in the evening. With the exception of Saundra Williams who fronted a smoky rendition of "Summertime" and "Ain't No Sunshine," Wooten's band relied more on their musicianship than vocals.

Wooten surrounded himself with an impressive band, mostly consisting of members of his family. After introducing his older brother Regi Wooten to the crowd as the man who taught him how to play, “The Teacher,” as Victor calls him, gave proof that the entire family might not be of this world. Taking lead on guitar, Regi led the band through a funky rendition of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir," a fun romp through Jimi Hendrix' "Fire" before concluding his otherworldly spot with an Eddie Van Halen-like guitar solo. A similar attempt to spotlight Joseph Wooten on keyboards failed to produce the same fireworks.

In general, a twenty minute bass solo will cause the most adventurous audiences to cringe. In this case, it's what everyone came for and Wooten didn't disappoint. Holding off on the inevitable showcase until the end of the show, Wooten worked his magic with drummer Derico Watson and a looping machine providing minimal accompaniment. Running through many different techniques, Wooten left no doubt that the nickname "the Michael Jordan of bass" is more than fan-inspired braggadocio.

Photo from VictorWooten.com.

Labels: Victor Wooten