Victor Wooten - What Did He Say? (1997)

Tracklist

1. Yo Victa
2. What Did He Say?
3. What You Won't Do For Love
4. Cherokee
5. Don't Wanna Cry
6. The Lonliest Monk
7. Chance, A
8. Radio W-OO-10
9. Norwegian Wood
10. Bro John
11. Naima
12. Sometimes I Laugh
13. My Life
14. The Sojourn Of Arjuna
15. Buzz Ntro
16. A Little Buzz
17. Kids Didn't Change
18. Heaven Is Where The Heart Is

personnel :

Bagpipes [Uilleann] – Davy Spillane (tracks: 14)
Banjo – Béla Fleck (tracks: 14)
Bass – Oteil Burbridge (tracks: 11)
Bass, Vocals – Victor Wooten
Cymbal – Futch* (tracks: 4, 14)
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – James Genus (tracks: 4)
Drums – Raymond Massey (tracks: 4, 14)
Drums, Vocals [Background] – JD Blair (tracks: 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18)
Guitar – Regi Wooten (tracks: 4, 11, 18)
Handclaps – Kurt Storey (tracks: 10, 13)
Mastered By – Randy LeRoy
Percussion – Jim Roberts (8) (tracks: 11, 14)
Snare – Jennie Hoett (tracks: 14)
Soprano Saxophone – Paul McCandless (tracks: 14)
Tenor Saxophone – Jeff Coffin (tracks: 4)
Trumpet – Rod McGaha (tracks: 4, 14)
Vocals – Ann McCrary (tracks: 5), Robert Bailey* (tracks: 5), Elijah "Pete" Wooten (tracks: 10), Royel (tracks: 18)
Vocals, Alto Saxophone – Rudy Wooten (tracks: 4, 18)
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Cherokee (tracks: 2, 4)
Vocals, Handclaps – Holly Wooten (tracks: 10, 18)
Vocals, Piano – Joseph Wooten (tracks: 4, 14, 18)
Voice – Matt Smith (tracks: 8), Michael Kott (tracks: 8)

A superb, varied, playfully crafted disc, and an absolutely stunning effort that surpasses expectations. The music varies from funk and rap to a fantastic version of John Coltrane's "Naima," to a beautiful, very different -- yet quite recognizable without being boring -- version of the Lennon/McCartney standard "Norwegian Wood." The shifts of stance, posture, and presentation are at times abrupt but never disconcerting; rather, they provoke thought and reflection. These shifts appear at times between the tracks and at times in the midst of the pieces themselves. The disc is never inaccessible; the combination of jazz and Irish music brings to mind the seemingly ridiculous combinations of Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains. The big departure from the first album is that this is not a solo bass album. He uses other instruments, and uses them well. Not to be missed. ~ Bob Gottlieb