Victor Wooten on the Lost Art of Showmanship | Reverb Interview

[@rygray]

Incredible musician, but I could listen to his thoughts all day

[@theHumanBryno]

His book "The Music Lesson" is a worthwhile read.

[@urbangorilla33]

Very perceptive and a great communicator.

[@MattFoleysGhost]

From his "Music Is A Language" speech to this, he just get's it in a way I've never seen in contemporary music. Time for me to finish his book The Music Lesson, because this man is The Truth.

[@Muck-qy2oo]

I love how he mentions also classical music. Not a lot of musicians, especially jazz musicians, do that today.

[@skyreadersociety6183]

one reason why I really respect Victor is not so much his chops, musicality etc. (which of course I do highly appreciate) but his empathy. Music is not an ego trip, your "phone's not gonna ring" if so.

[@MichaelColombo]

"People will go to a jazz festival, but they do that to drink wine and talk!"

[@1thess523]

Michael Colombo we have them all the time in my home town and that's what they are for drinking wine 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@urbangorilla33]

@@1thess523 Yeah I suspect it's a way for people to feel high brow - sophisticated music and wines whose names they can't pronounce.

[@justmayo6097]

Kinda sad to think about

[@stevenpeterson8444]

dude’s incredible

[@effsixteenblock50]

Truth, truth, truth! "It's not your struggle to fight." There is a limited audience that can go to a jazz show and accept that the priority is about the communication and interplay between the musicians on the bandstand. This is enough for them and they go along for the ride, just happy to bear witness. But the fact is, that most of these people are musicians themselves and this phenomenon is why jazz comes off as insular and noninclusive to most people. Trying to bring the audience along for the ride needn't involve dumbing down the music - we just need to make it a little more evident to the audience just how much fun we're having.

[@sesarise]

Victor is not just a musician, he is a philosopher.

[@corrda1993]

When I busk people will toss a $2 coin for 10 seconds of an unpolished solo performance, but that same person won't pay $1 for a full perfectly polished song on iTunes. Delivery is everything, thats why live music still exists, and why the recording industry is on a decline (except for music videos).

[@TheBroknPezDispenser]

They feel sorry for you..

[@paveantelic7876]

@@TheBroknPezDispenser that too lmao

[@regortex3364]

He's as gifted at life training as music, incredible human.

[@alixmorris5953]

His presence is so genuine.

[@thomaswalz3515]

Amen BROTHER! Musically, I was instructed to be an entertainer, have a schtick that was all you.... and with that bit, add your music to it... Truth hurts, these days, people seemed to have lost the ability to listen to music. As Victor says, people go to jazz fests to drink wine and talk.... and trust me, it's across the board with all genres now. I watched from the stage as this happened. When I first performed, people would join in the process... yes, entertainment is a process of including the audience, and having them participate beyond listening. As computers, then cell phone came into prominence, it all changed. People turned into the drinker/talkers Victor mentions.... I'd begin the process of entertaining, and people would scowl at me. I was told more than once, "could you turn down, we're trying to talk." Well... I went from rock and blues to now old school country... I think they are the last audience I had that danced fist song to last, and listened... My folk performances are also often to attentive audiences. If you play common covers, you are a juke box...

[@jery3385]

One of the genres that has the crowd involved is metal in general,mosh pits are awesome, there's a sense of comradeship when you stop a dozen people from stomping on a guy who just fell down ,you help him get up and get back to moshing along, there's always the big guy sitting on the sidelines that is basically the mosh mom. Dunno man,metal performances are intense.

[@thomaswalz3515]

@@jery3385 Metal is a genre where I can listen to just a couple songs and I need to move on. What I fo like about Metal is the musicianship and arranging, but the highly distorted guitar sound is just not for me... just my personal taste... I musically grew up with Classical and Broadway music in the home... and as a young adult, acoustic Folk and Blues... I eventually picked up electric, bought amps and effects. I can make my guitars do Metal crunch, but am just not drawn to the genre or the sound, preferring to play clean, some slight break-up is as close as I get for Blues, Americana... Music is endlessly challenging. A "mosh mom." Love it. I guess I'm culturally deprived... but I can see how Metal can inspire it.

[@jery3385]

@@thomaswalz3515 I mean distortion in general is somewhat of an acquired taste,in guitar and vocals as well,I personally am a metal vocalist,even though I'm 15 I can still do some booming gutturals. I grew up not really paying that much attention to music only around 2 years ago have I started somewhat listening more passionately but then when I started playing guitar and doing vocals my ear developed a good bit. But every respectable metal head has to appreciate blues,jazz and classical,they are the main reason metal exists.

[@screamotraplord]

Bluegrass still has an audience as well

[@andersingram]

wise words ... wish this was longer

[@BestBassTabs]

I love listening to Victor speak. He always has so much substance and depth.

[@lorpal1]

one of my all time heroes... So much wisdom and such an easy going guy.

[@scottkidwell3601]

In the few rock bands I've played in, I've always pushed the philosophy of putting on a show. That's what people pay to see and experience. They can buy the CD (or whatever format) to listen to it, even to relive the experience of the live show, but ultimately they want to see a show. Not a bunch of musicians on stage, staring at their shoes, playing perfectly rendered music. Give the audience a show

[@nicholaselfrink7717]

People like Freddie Mercury, Jim Morrison, Robert plant, Jimi Hendrix and many people before the 90s understood that very well. Freddie Mercury especially knew that which is why he’s praised as the greatest frontman/showman

[@Weshopwizard]

Could listen to him all day.

[@Smoothtlknwhtboi]

Well that was straight up 💎 of an interview

[@Capybara78]

A minute of this man's talking is worthy ten years of lessons !

[@allentaylor3325]

Victor Wooten lives, breahes and oozes music. Would love to take a class from him. I used to work at a law firm in NYC where he was a client. He is, was and always will be a BadAss and also a wonderful teacher and person.

[@NickHchaos]

The most spiritual man in music. (Aside from John McLaughlin). Insightful comments about Miles and Jazz. Very true.

[@jonnymonza9509]

Yes. You heard it right from the man himself. A kind voice, humbly speaking the truth.

[@thrillaspirit]

Man this guy is the utter truth I can literally feel every word he speaks

[@athiedoll]

Very articulate man, inspiring insight

[@iamharnam]

Whoaaa Victor spillin some tea 🫖🍵🙌🏼

[@isaacs2539]

His music metaphors are so apt!

[@deeforty]

Love listening to this guys insights, always leave smarter than before I watched.

[@CharlesGarant]

woah, that's probably the most relevant and wise video I've seen in a while

[@BigCityPalooka]

A lot of great observations, all elegantly stated. And the subject is one that's close to my heart. Yes, put another way, the "cool" factor has degraded the delivery of music, that is, degraded the capacity of the audience to appreciate music, in numerous genres, I think. As you point out, there are historical factors affecting our perception of what it means to do something even as simple as smile onstage, and no one wants to replicate or somehow perpetuate either the presence or the memory of evil, but these are the kinds of behaviors that our species uses to establish connections between strangers, which means that we're cutting off our best approach to making those connections with the audience before we've even hit the first note. I remember the meme in school, the disdain that young musicians had for the idea of "performing" as opposed to "playing music." Jazz can be a hard sell at the best of times. And the very real historical factors have unfortunately made this a difficult problem to think about and discuss here in the states. But in my experience, the audience can, generally speaking, see pretty deeply into where a performer is coming from. And yet, wherever a performer is coming from, it's an *extremely* rare audience member that can see past HOW the musician is presenting their music. I'm a busker, and I sing standards in the subway here in New York, and I see and feel the effects of different forms of emotional stagecraft and showmanship *immediately*. There aren't any easy answers. But if it doesn't appear that the musician is actively, consciously trying to connect with the other humans around them, and on a human level, apart from whatever the charms of the actual music may be, connection will not happen. ANYway, sorry this is so long, but I very much appreciate your willingness to take on the topic, as well as the high level of your discussion. Cheers and best of luck to you.

[@JosephGallagher]

"When you FEEL it, you WILL build an audience..."

[@tomkirk6942]

Very sensitive, real and intelligent man and musician.

[@musicalcompanion5890]

Pretty much rite on the money a lot a of jazz players. play to feel themselves and the audience doesn't understand, this is also a problem of some types of virtuosos players in any genre.

[@mastertung7]

Great interview ,love the honesty,call things what they are,..to thine own self be true !!!!!!!

[@kay4x4]

I hope this video comes on TV sometime.

[@dorianblunote455]

Amazing! Thanks all involved. The truth shall set you free.

[@2beJT]

I remember listening to my friend's older sister's ex bf's CDs he left behind. Driving around and we slide in some burned copy labeled Victor Wooten. Blew my mind to hear the bass like that.

[@JulianFernandez]

I love Victor. I just love him.

[@drewmanchester9564]

Saw victor in Manchester uk , of the chart. That man knows his way arround the bass guitar.

[@natec29]

He performed at my school! So awesome!

[@CurstofMaj]

Nate Coddington same. We were lucky enough to have him come twice. It was incredible. I’m not even a bassist, but he’s so inspirational.

[@ot148]

Wooten is a prophet! What a guy

[@PerezBroz-p5o]

Gold wisdom right here

[@tomkaduk]

I have trouble figuring out what's more beautiful, his playing or his voice. And he's absolutely 100% right, even if you're playing technical stuff, you need to do SOMETHING entertaining on stage besides moving your hands.

[@ErnandoVlogs]

this is so spot on

[@asterhogan1]

Showmanship is such a tricky thing these days with people being very judgy and nothing being original and different kinds of music need different ways of grabbing their audience so if your audience isn't moving you're doing something wrong or maybe that's what you intended so it's a free for all just make sure you're making someone happy and it's ok if it's just yourself being happy

[@orlock20]

There are different styles of jazz and many jazz players do not work with vocalists and do swing. They want to be shredders. The drum solo, the piano solo and guitar solo has been dead in pop music since the mid 1990s. Meanwhile the covers album Check to Check performed by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett sold 750,000 copies.

[@henryhill92]

Look at Father John Misty: incredible live performance, really has that magnetism you associate with the great front-men like Jim Morrison or Bob Marley, and its a learned performance, he used to be a run-of-the-mill indie folk guitar dude. And what does he get labeled? Pretentious, narcissistic, fake, etc. People these days get freaked out by someone who's really performing, not just playing.

[@thevomit5851]

The start was a rendition of Norwegian Wood by the Beatles, great melody!

[@HinzRafael]

so good!

[@atquinn1975]

Victor Wooten=Awesomeness

[@emilioestacio9731]

Thumbs up to Victor

[@josegsaravia]

When this man speaks, you want to listen.

[@ianwebster3489]

Very wise man.

[@SPAPBrocker]

Funny, I was thinking about stage presence the other day. This isn't the type of thing that is talked about in interviews much so this short snippet was fascinating

[@Bitgisa]

what a good talk, cheers

[@chrisattigliato1]

Pure poetry

[@noonancolm]

This is brilliant

[@SuperCD93]

Love vic, anyone know of any long form video or audio interviews with him actually? Could listen to him for hours!

[@TheMusicmak3r]

conviction!

[@somenothing7914]

This dude's so cool.

[@iksaxophone]

This guy is as wise as he is virtuosic. And that's really saying something.

[@175epi]

Wisdom spoken here.

[@uphillracer]

Love this

[@robindgordon]

that was really valuable

[@bengom68]

Right on bro , !

[@lawrencehall3266]

This just made me want to go and play my bass for several hours.

[@portaismusicstudio]

Esse cara tinha de ser meu pai...

[@chesneytube1]

I love Victor Wu Tang

[@analogdragon4709]

Love it

[@mikelawct]

very smart

[@RasherQuivers]

I wish that I could hit the "Thumbs Up" button 100 more times!

[@lazlomattachine8334]

True talk

[@CainaanDC]

I wish he was my music teacher

[@snakemont]

Showmanship!

[@TheMusicmak3r]

Truth!

[@hiqwertyhi]

Can we have Frosty on the lost art of snowmanship?

[@whatsabryan]

Word.

[@allentaylor3325]

I want that white shirt man. Where U shop bro?

[@Pelllaw26]

This guy is so deep with a lot of videos of me 😂

[@terrymiller111]

One correction: there are still struggles; they are just at a different level.

[@mkallend]

I would love to hear Vic Wooten straight-up walk a bass line. I’m sure he can do it: He’s amazing.....but, wouldn’t that be cool? Just do his Christian McBride or Dave Holland impression.

[@herculesrockefeller8969]

Put Victor and Wynton Marsalis in a room and watch it explode from all the practical and musical knowledge contained there.

[@Zodasg]

Near 40 000 views, 6 dislikes, I think that says it all

[@mikeroadblock]

V “MF” W!

[@aaronauchter2861]

Wow Vic Wooten wearing a puffy shirt!!

[@rtmwzd]

Whoa... (O_O) (1:30) Jazz killed jazz

[@1thess523]

I've always hated seeing boring bands that just stood there and i came from the punk scene.

[@paulgoff1871]

Victor Wooten is what Neil Degrass Tyson would be if he never became a scientist but became a musician

[@sisohand249]

Yes, people want to be there inside your instrument. Even if it doesn’t always fit your live plans. If you do it, they’ll enjoy it and come with you, thankfully. No one likes a spiteful unemotional music delivery, even if “near perfect”. No one will stay, no one will listen, no one will participate.

[@Jigson05]

That's exactly what Sting did with jazz music. Made it appealing

[@kreangaaa6009]

I love this video, it really got me to thinking. Though I believe this showmanship and visual appeal is what spawned MTV - cancer to music as far as I am concerned. When MTV debuted, Christopher Cross had 2 singles in the top 20 - he couldn't get a record deal later because he didn't have the " look of a pop star ". I wonder how many great musicians were never heard because of this way of thinking? Look at the so-called artists today.It's all about theatrics, choreography etc. I am convinced that select modern pop acts who are millionaires know nothing about music. They can't sing (think auto-tune), they can't write their own music and probably don't even know how play a musical instrument.

[@TheKingofspades25]

He shaped his hair into a hat

[@jamesdio2948]

I would play sinister for people and they would lose their shit knowing.

[@SavvyWalrusPirate]

Good interview. Sad that he has to preempt people “not to be offensive,” a sign of the times.

[@21stCENTURYBOY12]

Joseph S. I think it’s a rather respectful thing to say.

[@theywantuniquebodies]

daniel cullen yeah for sure, Wooten is a very froward thinking thoughtful individual, people could learn a lot from the way he moves through life

[@passion_flora]

Certainly the sign of the times, people nowadays are largely more empathetic towards people than baby boomers and past generations were, and people who were historically disadvantaged before are doing better than ever. People are much less touchy today than they were tactless and selfish fifty years ago. It's a small problem to have but preferable to the latter I would say. I love living in 2017 because of this. Very tactful and intelligent observations made by Victor.

[@KozmykJ]

+Jeremy Pace - Here we go again. Let's pick on a certain generation and blame all sorts of nonsense on them. Victor Wooten, great guy by the way, born 1964. Baby Boomer years 1946-1964 ... theory undermined somewhat.

[@SavvyWalrusPirate]

daniel cullen I see where you’re coming from, kind of weird jumping from one what person says to then say it’s a “sign of the times.” But you can certainly find other “signs” of political correctness elsewhere in pop culture. Just wish the style of music becoming popular nowadays wasn’t so polarized.

[@MrPm257]

Kinda like Norwegian Wood at the beginning...

[@williamfore7886]

You're not allowed to be a showman anymore. Try being a small artist and trying to use even a simple fog machine at a sho, people are too litigious and clubs won't allow any wild stuff unless you're already a huge act.

[@jst601]

Wow. Rock musicians may not even have as much of a musical gift? Pompous man.

[@jnaz3thirty1]

whisperthis I believe he said “ pop”

[@jst601]

jnaz3thirty1 hhhhmmmmm..... I'll give it a listen again & make sure. 👍

[@rickyj1250]

He said pop but you could easily include rock musicians in the lacking musical gift category

[@dancavalcanti4199]

Oh man, please let me praise the poor black man for his troubles. Reply to this and I give bitcoin link for tip for such a poor warrior who has been so racially mistreated. XX

[@dancavalcanti4199]

This white man dolla tho... so you have to balance whether it worth it...