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One of the DVDs that I got for Christmas (thanks Mom & Dad) featured Victor Wooten and Carter Beauford (of the Dave Matthews Band).
The main focus of the DVD is the studio and creative process in which Carter played drums on two songs (Zenergy and Resolution) on Victor's Yin-Yang album. While it was interesting (having been through a number of studio sessions, seeing the pros do it was an fascinating contrast), it was not the most appealing segment. The conversations that both Wooten and Beauford would have about maintaining groove and feel, musicianship and ways of playing together (instead of just with each other).
The bonus material of the DVD are even better. Beauford talks about most of the songs on the Busted Stuff cd and how he created his part. He talks about his influences, his general approach and how he works with the other members of the band. What's left of the drummer in me really enjoyed his commentary.
Wooten's extras consist mostly of him doing Q&A before Bass Day '01. His answers are quite enlightening. Capping the bonus material is Victor's solo from Bass Day '01. Basically, he plays what would become the Flecktones song Reminiscence (from the Little Worlds album). Part of the way through the tune, he begins to radically detune his bass, resulting in all the strings basically hanging completely slack on the neck. He slaps and works the bass in that condition for a while and then begins to slowly bring the tension back to his strings. AFter a minute or two of working the strings, he pauses for a second, and then picks back up the song, completely in tune.
I saw Wooten do the same feat at the Ram's Head about two or three years ago. That time, he did it to the song "Joe's Journey" (also from the Yin-Yang cd). When he did this live, I was completely blown away. Tuning a bass by ear -- not so impressive. Tuning a bass by ear/feel/I-don't-really-know-how-he-did-it without stopping to actually tune the instrument? Damn impressive.
Posted by Casper at January 6, 2004 11:40 AM