Live in America

Editorial Review:

One benefit of the declining costs of CD manufacture is the more common release of music with only a niche market; for example, fans of virtuoso electric bass--that is to say, Victor Wooten fans. The downside is that more and more often, artists, unconstrained by high production costs, feel free to put out even their most ephemeral musical musings. Victor Wooten's two-CD studio set, Yin-Yang, though full of masterful moments, suffered from all the chaff among the wheat.

Live in America, too, requires listeners to sit through filler: stage patter that might have been fun if you were there; slight '70s pop-funk ("What Did He Say," "Hormones in the Headphones"); disco ("Yinin' and Yangin'"); Hendrix and Ozzy quotes in order to get to instrumentals like "Sacred Silence/The Jam Man" and "Miller Time" (featuring Marcus Miller), which offer the kind of soulful, mind-altering bass guitar work that the man does best. Wooten is a willful eclectic and, as his work with Bela Fleck proves, that can be fine. Still, though the musicians do a workmanlike job here, it takes a band of equal virtuosos like the Flecktones and some serious editing to make this kind of genre-hopping truly work. His bandmates refer to him as "The Teacher" in his introduction, and Live in America should inspire bass students to practice, as well as teach them the dangers of self-indulgence. --Michael Ross

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Not what you'd expect.:

Let me be the first to say that Victor Wooten is an amazing musician. And let me also be first to say that Victor Wooten's live act is a delight to see in person, emitting obvious talent and musicality along with the positive vibe that comes from seeing his family and friends supporting him on stage. But, these things aside, I cannot recommend this CD for anyone trying to get a good cross-section of Victor's sound.
Part of the problem is the CD's panoptic view of the Wootens' live set, rarely editing... more info

A Great Album, sags at times:

I just recently saw Victor and his band on the Soul Circus tour and picked up this album on the way out. It was an awesome show, and this album does a pretty good job of capturing the band's upbeat energy and great grooves.
There's a lot to digest here, and the album isn't put together quite well enough to make it a seamlessly enjoyable listening experience. There are a number of excellent tracks on the first disc, mostly of the funk-groove variety. "Nobody Knows my Name," "Yinin' and Yangin'" and even... more info

victor and marcus:

there were some cheesy vocals on the cd however when marcus miller plays with victor on the track caalled panther that is worth the price of both the double cd set.

michael ross is a buffoon.....:

How could this swine get an actual job as a reviewer when he is so obviously totally ignorant of all things musical? He accused victor's brother's of not being virtuosic, and he apparently didn't listen too well, because Reggie Wooten(the ultimate guitar master) is the teacher, not victor. I have seen this album performed in person twice, and it is nothing to scoff at, believe me. Not only were they two of the most memorable concerts of the many I have had, but they were just damn good. And what was that... more info

Tracks:

1. Are You Ready, Baby? - Victor Wooten, Collins, Bootsy
2. What Did He Say?
3. Hormones in the Headphones - Victor Wooten, Kott, Michael
4. Nobody Knows My Name
5. Hero - Victor Wooten, Wooten, Joe
6. Yinnin' and Yangin'/Hey Girl
7. Sacred Silence/The Jam Man
8. Tappin' and Thumpin'/Born in the Dark/I Can't Make You Love Me - Victor Wooten, Wooten, Reggie
9. James Brown/Iron Man - Victor Wooten, Brown, James [1]
10. Miller Time: Panther/Teen Town - Victor Wooten, Miller, Marcus
11. Good People
12. Imagine This
13. I Dream in Color - Victor Wooten, Wooten, Joe
14. My Life
15. U Can't Hold No Groove...
16. Me and My Bass Guitar

Similar Products:

Yin-Yang by Victor Wooten (Audio CD) - Usually ships in 24 hours

A Show of Hands by Victor Wooten (Audio CD) - Usually ships in 24 hours

Soul Circus by Victor Wooten (Audio CD) - Usually ships in 24 hours

Palmystery by Victor Wooten (Audio CD) - Usually ships in 24 hours

What Did He Say? by Victor Wooten (Audio CD) - Usually ships in 1 to 2 days

Just Add Water by Bass Extremes (Audio CD) - Usually ships in 1 to 2 days

Victor Wooten - Live at Bass Day '98 DVD from Hal Leonard (DVD) - Usually ships in 24 hours

Bass Extremes - Cookbook by Bass Extremes (Audio CD) - Usually ships in 24 hours

The Toys of Men by Stanley Clarke (Audio CD) - Usually ships in 24 hours

Site © 2005-2008 Atarim, LLC