On top of everything, Victor is such a nice, warm and humble person.

I'm 54 years old and from NC. I had heard of Victor and his brothers all the way back in 83-84. The word on the circuit that we all use to play on were that these brothers were the baddest of the bad. The first time I actually heard victor was in the 90s with the Flecktones at place called Green Acres Music Hall in Bostic NC. Literally in an old cow pasture and the most rural setting you could ever imagine. To say my bass playing mind was blown would be an understatement. While Vic playing is about the most amazing thing ever, I think what is more important is that he is such a kind soul. Sure he makes me want to be a better bass player but more so he makes me want to be a better person. That is the highest compliment I can give.

"What an absolute dude!" - Scott

Who else heard him first through his live "Isn't she lovely" loop arrangement?

First time was him playing "Isn't She Lovely"

His cover of Amazing Grace was the first thing I saw from him. I saw Bass Day 98 and just thought wow. I also managed to see him in my home town in the UK and got a few moments to speak with him and Anthony Wellington. I saw Regi (Victor's brother) as well. Completely unexpected but so incredible.

When I was thirteen and getting into music seriously my brother sat me down and watched two videos with me, one was Jaco’s “Modern Electric Bass” and the other was Victor’s “Groove Workshop” tape, and these two videos couldn’t have been more different. One was very heavily drenched in theory and the other expressed the importance of feeling music as a language first. I would say Jaco has shaped my playing more, but Victor is a huge inspiration still

I had never heard of Victor Wooten until a couple of days ago when I came across a youtube video by accident. The coronavirus quarantine has a unexpected bonus for me. I am blown away by everything I have seen.

Wooten's pocket is so insanely big I feel like he can do a bunch of things that would just sound awkward and cluttered in the hands of most other bassists. But one thing I *really* enjoy is hearing a bassist with an insanely large pocket playing relatively few notes. Its one of the most satisfying feelings of groove I have ever experienced.

I wrote "bass solo" in Napster and Victor came up. My life changed at that moment.

Victor is one of the most laid back, and coolest people I have ever heard talk. Not just an inspirational bass player, but an inspirational person in general.

My first time hearing Victor was serendipitous. I was visiting a friend in NYC circa, fall, 2006. In gratitude for hosting me at his amazing apartment overlooking the Park I invited him out to for a night at the BlueNote. I had no idea who might be playing on that random evening, but it turned out to be a trio led by by Chick Corea, with Victor on bass and Dave Weikl behind the kit. As a former bassist who as a teenager idolized Jaco and Louis Johnson and the jazz-rock fusion bands of the late 70s, early 80s, I had long given up music to pursue a legal career, and had not picked up a guitar in 20 years. I had never heard of Victor, yet that evening I was elevated to Cloud 9 by his music and remained there for many weeks. The following year I picked up a bass for and the first time in 20 years and I joined a band, and I’ve been playing music almost every day since! Thanks Victor!

17yrs old I heard Me and my Bass Guitar. Made me immediately think I'd been playing bass wrong. Victor is a LEGEND! \m/

Oh boy do I remember... I was 16-17 years old, a huge fan of primus and the jam band scene, and had just started playing bass. My house was the designated party and flop house, and me and my friends would spend a lot of time watching concert DVD's that we all traded like baseball cards. One day I was sitting outside on my porch when some friends of mine got dropped off. We all started talking about music and he told me "You have to see this guy that so-and-so showed me. He's better than Claypool. He plays with this band called Bela Fleck and the Flecktones". Me being a young kid who loved Claypool and never heard anything better, thought there was no way he was better and I told him that I doubted it. He was so sure of himself that he called whoever it was and asked if he could borrow the DVD because "my friend thinks Claypool is the best and he needs to see this". An hour later we have the DVD and pop it in. Live at the Quick. And oh my god... That feeling is something I'd never felt before and haven't felt since then. It was absolutely mesmerizing. The friend who told me about him was the kind to rub things into your face when he was right, but this time, we all just shut up and rewatched that DVD all night. It was magical. I legitimately couldn't believe it. I thought there was some trickery involved because it was just so alien to me. The Flecktones immediately became my favorite band ever, and because of that, I was introduced to so many types of music like jazz and bluegrass that I may have never gotten into otherwise. It changed my life and inspired me to become a better bassist. I practiced for hours a day and got my hands on as much of Victor's stuff as I could, trying as hard as I could to learn all of his techniques. I started to see him in concert as much as possible, arriving hours early to get front row. One amazing night I got to play his bass after he handed it to the crowd mid-song, but I was so shocked that I barely tried to play it haha. The same night I stayed late and got to meet Victor and talked for about an hour. He's the kindest, sweetest, and most uplifting person ever. Made me realize that all my heroes are just people like me. Got to meet him again years later and he remembered me and asked if I was still playing and gave me some pointers and signed my copy of The Lesson (which was a book that changed my life). Victor is still my hero. Not just musically, but in so many ways. And I'm so grateful that I was introduced to him because it changed my life. Even though the friend who introduced me to him, stole my signed Soul Circus shirt haha

Victor Wooten não só um Baixista Genial, mas uma pessoa iluminada! grande mestre

0:14 I'm a 14 yo. guy who plays and studies viola and it's interested and fascinated with the bass guitar. My dad has a jazz bass, and in that instrument I heard it for first time. When I was starting on bass, my dad told me "You have to hear Victor Wooten", so I searched him on KZfaq. I wasn't so surprised because I didn't know how complex was what he played. But I learned more about the instrument, and then I heard it: The Lesson. That video/piece blew my mind. The music, the complexity, the harmony, and for all over, the way that man loves what he does. It's just... satisfying. He's an artist and a poet. He just does amazing music with four strings. I'm now reading "The Spirit of Music", as a gift from my dad, by Victor Wooten and I'm a really huge fan of him. Cheers!!

I don't even refer to his arrangements as bass lines, we call them his expressions.

Just discovered Victor this year 2022. I guess I'll crawl back under my rock...He is a very talented person!

One of the most important guys in the world, his book 'The Lesson' is incredibly strong. I heard him in BFatFT band 20 years ago utterly blown away!

i was about 13 years old when i first learned of Vic, and it was from a bass magazine i saw in a local music/guitar shop and was immediately intrigued and began looking for some of his music and ,like most people, was absolutely blown away once i finally managed to hear it.

first time was some 15 years ago.i listened to him playing zenergy with carter beauford and i remember thinking..,man,i ll never play like this..well,some days ago i played the damn song!of course i m not nearly as good as victor,but playing that song gave me a big boost!and he also has dystonia like you scott!

The Best Bassist Ever!!!! He has laid down the most incredible grooves, techniques and beautiful lines on the bass and he deserves a golden statue for his playing ability and his willingness to teach others and having outstanding character!!! I love that man..... ya think???

I was at Tower Records in 96 and I saw a CD cover that caught my attention. As a bass player I immediately recognized a silhouette of a bass guitar. I figured the CD must be Bass focused and lucky for me, the CD happened to be available on a listening station. I put on the headphones and I heard, “Yo Victa!....you can’t hold no groove if you ain’t got no pocket.” 5 seconds in, I knew I was hearing something very special. With all the money in my pocket and a bit of help from mom, I bought the CD = Life forever changed. Victor Wooten, since 1996 my favorite bass player.

I first heard him on the Today Show playing Sinister Minister in the 80s. He was introduced as the "Secret Weapon".

"The Music Lesson"... one of the best books about music. A must have for every musician. IMHO.

2001. Béla Fleck and the Flecktones “Live at the Quick” aired on DirecTV. I was a junior in high school and played bass trombone in my high school jazz band. From that moment on, I wanted to learn how to play bass and guitar and banjo and drumitar and literally any instrument I could get my hands on to see if I could create music like what I had just heard. His “Amazing Grace” solo on that album still stands as my all-time favorite. I’ve seen him live a few times and have always left each concert scratching my head wondering how much work he put in to be as amazing as he is.

1994ish...Nashville or somewhere close in TN. I watched Victor Wooten's family play a show. They switched instruments after every 3 songs in a clockwise fashion. All of them equally good if not better on the instrument they were playing before. Victor is an amazing bass player. He grew up around a fantastic musical family. We met them after the show and everyone one of them was warm, engaging, polite and humble. It made me seriously study my instrument and gave me the blueprint on how to be a professional.

Heard Mr Wooten on my friends phone 7 years ago for the first time and that got me into playin bass.... I remember it was the you cant hold no groove song and just a bit less than a year ago I played it live as a solo part... A dream came true ☺️

My first experience with Victor Wooten was his Bass Extremes DVD with Steve Bailey. Granted, I probably saw it about 10 years after it’s initial release..

first time i heard Victor was with Bela Fleck and I loved everything about that band

First time I heard Victor was LIVE! I’d never heard of him. Went to a Dave Matthews Band show with some friends and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones opened up for them. My jaw was on the FLOOR!!

1996 I was in Best Buy looking for new cd's to purchase, I found "Show of Hands"....Keep in mind, I never heard of Victor Wooten, It was the picture of this Dude holding a Bass, that caught my eye....so I bought the cd !!!!! Boy, was I surprised, and blown away by this guy's Bass Playing!! I've been a fan ever since '96 !!!!!!

the first time i heard “Me and my Bass guitar” almost made me quit bass haha

I saw him playing with Bela Fleck in Glasgow a few years ago. He was incredible. You could tell who the bass players were in the audience because we were all gathered Infront of him stunned

I got the show of hands album at age 15 and had no idea how he was doing any of that! It was from another planet and I had no idea how he could possibly be doing that on a bass. I worked up my best version of me and my bass guitar using some two hand tapping and got kinda close. my dad took me to see him at little brothers in Columbus Ohio and I was completely floored. Shortly after bass day 98 and a couple other videos became available and I got it. Fast forward 15 years later I got to hang out with him after a clinic he did in town and sat in with a friends band. Long story short vics the reason I’m here.

Bass Day '98 changed my life! I'm still learning something new every time I watch that.

The first time was when a friend of mine showed me a 5 minutes bass solo of his. I remember at the time I couldn't comprehend some things and thought it was a fake because I wasn't seeing the movement that I'd presume to be necessary in order for all those notes to pop out. I legit picked u the bass because I was damn curious to know what the hell he was doing.

First time I saw a video of him , I thought the video was edited to hell. I couldn't believe he was real. Top tier of inspirations.

First time I heard Vic was with the Flecktones back in the 90's. I got my first chance to see them live when they performed at my university. I had a class in the theater building and heard them doing sound check. I simply walked in and introduced myself. Bela, Vic, Howard, and Roy were all so nice. I even had the chance to play Roy "Futureman" Wooten's (Vic's brother) SynthAxe Drumatar. Very cool instrument! This was LONG before I played bass so I wasn't nearly as big a Victor fan boy as I am now. Oddly enough, Vic and I live in the same small town and I used to see him when our children had school events together. Very very nice guy. I've also been to his Wooten Woods campground. Beautiful place...go if you get the chance!

The first time I heard Victor Wooten was when I first heard Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. I was blown away by the bass playing and looked into the band only to discover Victor's awesomeness.

"Amazing Grace" was a mind blowing too!!!!

He was playing "Amazing Grace" He and John Cooper from Skillet are why I am saving money to get a bass to learn to play. Keep up the good work.

Saw Vic and two other Wootens at the Swindlefish Saloon in Athens, OH back in the nineties and it changed my life. For real. Mind blowing and so soulful. Amazing musicians.

I watched a video of him maybe a year after I started playing bass and ever since then he’s been one of my favorite bassists of all time. Victor is incredible.

When i first listen V.W. First solo album i asked my bass: "can you really do those things???" Yes....and YOU?...now i play ukulele.

I discovered Victor about ten years ago... I play bass since 80s... I thought I was watching an ET. His technique is simply unbelievable

first time with victor wooten was when I was sitting with my dad and he was showing me great musicians on youtube. and showed me victor wooten playing amazing grace with with harmonics. victor is one of the reasons I play bass

My dad took me to see bella fleck and the flecktones at the crest theater in Sacramento, Ca circa 1995, had no idea who they were.wasnt a fan of bluegrass or jazz at that time but was stunned by the all involved but primarily by the bass player, a young(er) Victor Wooten

When i was in middle school, I watched bass day 98 at least twice a day, 3 normally. Id wake up early, get dressed, brush my teeth, brush my hair then get as much bass day 98 as i could before my mom took me to school, get out of school at 2:30, watch the whole DVD, play bass, eat dinner then put it on again to go to sleep too. I would put my little 25 watt by my head while i was laying down, super low volume, so my sister didn't tell my parents, and play till i fell asleep with my mexican squire P bass on my chest. lol. I havent thought about that in forever. I should play more bass lol.

Victor has underrated taste in drummers.

That live version of The Lesson completely changed my life and how I view the bass as an instrument. His performance expresses so much emotion and storytelling, that every time I listen to it, I discover even more valuable treasure inside that blows my mind. Victor Wooten is truly a revolutionary and inspiration to many bass players and musicians.

Victor is an amazing musician and human being. I'll always be thankful for how his advice on sharpening up timing with a metronome improved my playing.

He's one of the best

Victor is one the best bassist ive ever heard. His reputation is truely justified. Yet I haven't heard any song of him that i like to would listen to in my free time. I hoped this video may have some but it doesnt. Maybe its a genre preference thing but I often find that decent songs can be really awesome if a cool bassline is written in it. Haven't found anything of victor yet. What are some of his songs you like?

My cousin introduced me to him back in 2004 while I was in high school. Since him twice in concert and took pictures with him. Great guy and hell of a player !!!!!!!!!

Hi, I remember the first time I heard him, it was in the middle of night on PBS, it was begining (february/march)of 97. I was half asleep, and then he came on, I was instantly awakened...I followed him ever since! I met him years later in Atlanta, and besides being a great musician, an amazing composer, and a virtuos , he is a great human being with a true heart and great dignity. I thought about joining his bass camp in the mountain of north Carolina which I heard was great fun. Well done on selecting pieces, but I wish you could have included his duo with Steve Bailey...keep up the great work, it s a real inspiration!

First time i heard him was on “Sinister Minister”, and i immediately had to know, who the bass player was

Scott - I love what you are doing and the inspiration and encouragement you provide to us all. I have heard that you can appreciate a constructive comment from time to time. What that said, I think you missed one that should be in your top 10 for Wooten solo’s or “Wooten’s Top 10.” Please check out Victor’s solo with the Dave Matthew’s Band on the “Live in Chicago 12.19.98 at the United Center,” #41 (the name of the track), Victor’s solo is after the sax solo at about 6 mins 30 seconds into the track and he runs a “conversational,” dare I say a “dissertational” 4 minute solo (awesome harmonics at the end to close the song) that literally and virtually says it all. This was my first experience of hearing Victor Wooten...and like many others, I didn’t know who he was. I saw Bass Day 1998 AFTER hearing this solo. Interested to hear the feedback. Stay sane, safe and healthy!

I first heard him when I met him, he visited my highschool, re-inspired me to pick up the bass again! At the time I played the Alto Sax

The first time I´ve heard about VW was when I was 16 yo (Now I'm 33). A great friend of mine shown me a show and I became a fan in that moment. In 2016 I was lucky because VW came to Málaga (A small city in the South of Spain, known as Costa del Sol) and I could enjoy a great show. The best part was that he and his band went to the seats and had their pictures taken with everyone in attendance. A great artist.

Steve Harris or Geddy Lee next please.

Bass day 98 dvd. I feel like Vic had peaked material and tone wise on that dvd.

The First Time I listened to Victor Wooten's music, was like on 2005 or 2006, when I friend of mine, show me the video where he plays "Amazing Grace", it was a wonderfull moment

It was in the mid 90's I was playing with a metal band. I went to the local music store before a gig and found his instructional dvd. It was between him and Randy Coven. So I picked Victor Wooten's DVD. Let me tell you I am glad I did!!! It opened up a new world for me.

I was expecting his version of Amazing grace

I especially appreciate that he does all that with a 4-string and not some crazy 8 or 10 string instrument.

One of my friends showed me "the lesson" after a couple days of playing bass, been looking up to him ever since

I grew up in Hampton Roads, and my Dad was/is a popular local bass player, so he took me to see Victor a lot when I was younger. First time I remember was he and Sheehan giving a bass clinic at a small local guitar shop in the early 90s (Alpha Music in Virginia Beach). It was awesome, got to hang and learn from both of them for a few hours. Only like 15-20 other people there, including staff. Great memory. Hadnt thought of it in decades until watching this video. Cheers.

Those who think Victor is absolutely the best bass player ever 👇

Now do Stanley Clarke's top 10 expressions, I mean lines 🤔

First time ever seeing Vic, I was watching the Jacksonville Jazz festival from a long time ago on TV (from that same clip you have on this video) and Bela Fleck & the Flecktones started playing and this crazzzzzzzzzzzzy amazing dude on the bass was just tearing it up on every song and I was absolutely jaw dropped and mesmerized sitting for like 45 min. watching his every move. I was completely taken aback after the set ended and was basically in shock.

I cant honestly say the first time I remember hearing victor. All I know after hanging out with him for a week or so at jam camp clean up and jam camp he is the nicest most genuine human you will ever meet he will make you want to be a better person. Thank god good people like vic are on this earth.

After reading the music lesson

Slap like now! 😂

OMG!!!! Heard him many years ago and have loved his music with Flecktones from Sinister Minister on. He is still my favorite bassist and have been lucky to see Bela 6 times, Just perfect musicians and I thank them for inspiring me to work harder at my music, and practice more, and stretch farther!!! He was born for the bass, and I applaud his skills!!!!!

First time hearing him for me was on a radio station, WDUQ from memory. That night I heard Sinister Minister and didn't catch the name because I was so enthralled with the song itself. I turned around, picked up my bass, and started woodshedding. A few days later, I saw him on a Lonesome Pine special with Ray Brown and Edgar Meyer totally by accident while flipping through channels. From then on I was absolutely hooked and bought Flight of the Cosmic Hippo as soon as I saw it on the shelves. Still pick up my bass and play through SInister Minister, Sex in a Pan, and play at playing Classical Thump :)

Never really liked him. Always made me wanna quit playing 😂

The first time I heard Victor Wooten was Circa 1997(?) I was in a Circuit City and a salesperson was doing a demo on a stereo system with "A show of hands".... My jaw hit the floor and I just had to get more of Victor in my ears. I can't even count the number of shows that my Wife and I have been to since then. Whether it's him, he and his brothers, with Bela Fleck or the most recent trio he's been with... We can't miss a show.

Lonesome PIne Specials - Ray Brown, Edgar Meyer, and Victor Wooten when it aired. I stumbled on it, slapped a blank tape in the VCR, then grabbed my bass to try and play along. Opened up my ears even more to what a bass could sound like back in '91.

Yesssss!!!!! I’m so glad I ran across YOU!!! So inspired to get back on bass

I saw Vic do a 10 minute upright bass solo here in Pittsburgh about 25 years ago and I still think I remember every second of it.

I was in my high school's jazz band. Sinister Minister was my intro to Victor. My mind was blown! It was the early 90s. This small town southern Texas boy was HOOKED!

Vix9 was my introduction to Victor and Bela when my dad gave me that album when it came out. I was in high school and focusing on flea style bass. My dad being a jazz pianist knew a little more about bass and introduced me to Wooten's incredible style.

First time introduced to Victor Wooten, January 2022 on KZfaq. The way he describes leaning can make one cry.

I first saw Vic in 1998; I didn't know anything about him and I'd never heard any of his music, but he was on the cover of Bass Player, so I bought a ticket on whim to see him play a local club. 4 years later I went to my first Bass / Nature Camp. 17 years (and 3 camps) later, I got to return as a teacher and work with Vic at two camps this last summer. He's a true inspiration.

First heard on CBC radio Dec.31, 2019. On TAPESTRY with Mary Hines. On again right now 1 PM. I was stunned. I have always loved the bass in Skywatch the Vancouver band and the bass in Powder Blues. Truly amazing talent.

1st time I heard of Vic was around 2000 when I first started playing bass. A drummer buddy of mine recommended that I check out the bass player from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. So I did and 20yrs ive met him numerous times and probably seen him over 20 times. Such a friendly and warm hearted person.

First time I herad Victor Wooten was on your channel learning how to slap bass. His performance in 1992, "Pretty Little Lady Groove" . I pulled up the groove just now to complete this sentence, and all the hair on my neck is standing up.

Freshman year of college, my roommates were getting down on the Live at the Quick dvd ~2004. Very distinct shift in what I thought was possible by a lot of different instruments, and of course, introduced me to Mr. Wooten. Lots of love goes to his Amazing Grace run on that take, but the back and forth between Victor and Jeff Coffin in Big Country will be burned in my brain till the day I die. The pacing of that conversation made me a fan for keeps 🙏🏻

I've been following Victor Wooten (and the Flecktones) since I saw the original Lonesome Pine episode in the late 80s on PBS for which Bela formed the group. I've met Victor several times. Such an amazing, inspirational, and humble person. One time, I had my kids with me, and he talked more with my kids (who are the same age as his own kids) than he did with me, and that was perfect.

Mind-blowing! I first heard Vic when my older brother introduced me to the Flecktones' music. Wow!

I was 13 when I saw Bela Fleck and the Flecktones open for Chicago in 1988(?) at SPAC. I was with my folks, and I remember not only being blown away by Victor, but also spending the first several minutes trying to figure out where the drums were coming from!

What an amazing video Scott!!! Thank you for it.

I first heard him because of his Isn't She Lovely cover and didn't investigate any further. Recently I started listening to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and I thought "god DAMN who is this bassist? VICTOR WOOTEN?????" It was certainly a pleasant surprise lol

My first time-"More love" from Show of hands.One of the most beautyfull,charming,groovie,showing amazing dynamics,melodic......... pieces writen for bassguitar

Im a guitarist from Zimbabwe.My first time was when a friend of mine gave me a Victor Wooten Bass day 98 audio cassette in 1998.Then I got the video and put a face to the name.

My first introduction to victor was at that Jacksonville Jazz festival I also had the honor of meeting him there also. What an amazing person. Definitely an old soul.

the first time i saw victor live was together with the flecktones (yes, vix 9, sinister minister, etc). we met before the gig, talked and took some photos together. after the gig i hung out with him and his brother roy (an absolute musical genius on his drumitar!) i met victor again a few years later as a solo artist and in the meantime he had become this really popular bassplayer. we talked and he was still this humble down to earth dude dressed in sweatpants. lol both of these brothers are incredibly talented, truly kind & humble, a rare thing these days.

I first heard him on the original Bela and the Flektones CD from '87 or whenever it was. I later saw them live in the mid to late 90's at my workplace. I was teaching English at the historic AUA language school in Bangkok, and they came to play in the school's auditorium! It blew my mind. They were doing some sort of international goodwill tour for either the UN or the US government, I can't remember which. I saw Robben Ford there, too. That original AUA Rajdamri branch, with its teak floors, is long gone now. I was so lucky to hear such great music there. Thanks for bringing up those memories, Scott. You also mentioned KNKX, one of the last jazz radio stations in the US. You can access all their studio sessions at KNKX.org, as well as listen to their live stream if you are outside their broadcast range.

I saw him with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in Oberlin, Ohio around 1991. It was at a place called Finney Chapel which is always free to go in. I had never heard of the group but went in to see, and the whole thing blew my mind! The best part was Victor playing the bass as it SPUN around his body!!