Victor Wooten loops

[Bret <echoplex@yahoo.com>]

I just saw Victor Wooten (bassist with Bela Fleck and Flecktones)
playing solo at a record store in Boulder. He mentioned that he does
loops now.  I asked what he used and he said he has a Jamman and an
Echoplex DP.  I mentioned this mailing list and he asked that I let
the Gibson and Lexicon folks here know that he uses their loopers. 

Today he played solo with no loop machine.  Tomorrow, he will play at
the Fox Theater in Boulder using loops, and a drummer.  I recorded his
solo playing today, and plan to record the duo at the Fox tomorrow.

Victor was very friendly, and upbeat, encouraging the small crowd to
ask questions.  His playing today involved playing bass lines, topped
with fretted melodies or chords, both played with either harmonics or
finger tapping using his right hand.  Often the bass lines were done
with hammering on, so his right hand was free to play the melody or
chords.  Touches of percussive popping were interspersed as well.  

Victor spoke about technique vs. musicality, stressing the importance
of listening, while playing, rather than playing using certain
technique "just because you can".
He said that this listening applies both in groups and when playing
solo, to listen to himself as the music is created.
Victor said that music is like cake.  The icing is nice, when thinly
put on top, but by itself it gets old fast.  The cake underneath is
the substance of the music, and can be enjoyed with or without the
icing.  The playing can be simple, and still have musical value that
endures the test of time.  The fanciest technique, without underlying
substance, grows tiresome quickly.   
While playing he obviously took chances, occasionally making a mistake
at the extremes, then recovering with grace and sometimes humor.  He
made his basses sing.

bret     
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