Victor Wooten Palmystery CD

As the virtuoso bass man for Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten has become a hero to four- (and five-) stringers everywhere. On his own, he creates a sound that largely rejects the rootsier side of Fleck's sound, embracing instead the funk and jazz-fusion flavors that have already been flowing through him for many years. Wooten's been making solo albums since the mid-'90s, but PALMYSTERY is one of his most wide-ranging efforts yet, incorporating soul/R&B, gospel, bluesy guitar licks (courtesy of Keb' Mo'), and of course the death-defying thumb acrobatics for which the world-class bassist is best known

Recording information: VixMix Studios (2004-2007).

Photographer: Steven Parke.

Personnel: Victor Wooten (vocals, fretless bass, hand claps, drum programming); Victor Wooten (bass instrument, bass guitar); Amir Ali (vocals, lute, violin, darabukka); Amir Ali (vocals, lute, violin); Future Man, Joseph Wooten (vocals, piano, organ, keyboards); Richard Bona (vocals, percussion); Chuck Rainey, Sifu Brian Edwards, Dorothy Wooten, Doug Woodard, The Woodard Family, Daniel Hunt, The Woodard Family, Derrick Lee, Dorothy G. Wooten, Alvin Chea, Saundra Williams, Adam Wooten, Holly Wooten, Kaila Wooten, Keith Lee (vocals); Regi Wooten (guitar, bass guitar); Alvin Lee, Alvin Lee , Mike Stern (guitar); Keb' Mo' (slide guitar); Roosevelt "The Doctor" Collier (pedal steel guitar); Eric Silver (mandolin, violin); Howard Levy (harmonica); Rudy Wooten, Rudy Wooten, Shawn "Thunder" Wallace (alto saxophone); Jeff Coffin (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Karl Denson (tenor saxophone); Rod McGaha (trumpet); Barry Green (trombone); Neal Evans (organ); Dane Bryant (keyboards); Anthony Wellington, Alvin "Lil' Al" Cordy, Anthony "Flex" Wellington, John Billings (bass guitar); Steve Bailey (fretless bass); Earl "Big E" Walker, Dennis Chambers, J.D. Blair, Raymond Massey, Will Kennedy , Derico Watson (drums); James "Duke" Jackson, James Jackson (congas); Roy Wooten (cajon drums, shaker, hand claps); Darrell Tibbs (percussion).

Audio Mixers: Victor Wooten; Robert Battaglia; Kurt Storey.

Down Beat (p.80) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Wooten's jaw-dropping, expressive technique on electric bass ties together all of this music, but there's an equal emphasis on inventive arrangements and contributions from an extended cast of family and friends."
JazzTimes (p.102) - "On the genre-bending PALMYSTERY, Wooten showcases his extraordinary range and unparalleled facility on a collection of originals..."