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The first thing we usually do as critics is to try to classify a musician's sound.  What genre does his music fall into?  Who does he sound like?  Every so often you realize that some artists do not imitate anyone else ­ they are the model for others.  Such is the case with Victor Wooten.

A child prodigy who began playing at the age of three, Wooten has compiled eighteen performances over a four year period on Live in America.  This CD ranges from R&B, funk, rock, blues, improv, and extended bass guitar jam sessions.  

Live in America begins with "Are You Ready, Baby?," a taped introduction/song by Bootsy Collins, then swings into "What Did He Say?."  "Nobody Knows My Name" features the vocals of MC Divinity.  Wooten uses a voice box on "Hero" and "If You Want Me to Stay," giving each track a Peter Frampton/Steely Dan feel.  

"Sacred Silence/The Jam Man" is an unbelievable clinic of bass work by Wooten, also featuring guitar work by his brother Regi, who Wooten calls "The Teacher."  "Tappin' and Thumpin" is another bass highlight, and "Miller Time" is a bass duel between Victor and fellow bass-master Marcus Miller.

"James Brown/Iron Man" is a improbable coupling, comprised of a medley of James Brown tunes segueing into the Black Sabbath standard.  No one in their right mind would match these two, but Wooten makes it work.  Brother Regi's guitar blazes on the latter.

Whether solo, or with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, anything Victor Wooten appears on is worth a listen.  He is one of the few artists I can classify as groundbreaking.  Live in America provides a nice showcase for the last five years.

Brian A. Smith 11/10/2001