Photos by Arnold Goodman
When Victor Wooten is the headliner, it is difficult to determine if the audience or he and his fellow musicians are having a better time. Wooten’s sense of humor and obvious love of performing brought smiles to the faces of those enjoying his music at the Blue Note.
Wooten played with JD Blair on drums in the ’90s where they started to experiment with samples. The two started the show with some interesting duo work playing “The Lesson” and using samples of Malcolm X, James Brown and Bruce Lee. Wooten played “What Did He Say” with Blair using a slap-bass funky style that had the audience clapping along. The two were joined by Bob Franceschini on sax and Max Z.T., who had impressed Wooten enough as a walk-on to be included on an album. Lee Taylor joined the boys on stage and sang “You Better Do Right” and “Autumn Leaves.”
Wooten is a five-time Grammy winner and his playing on this night was definitely worthy of someone who has been voted Bassist of the Year in Bass Player Magazine’s readers poll three times now.
– Stanley Abraham
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