by S. Rotan Hale
To say the Wooten Brothers with their “Sweat” tour, hit the Jefferson Center stage with a bang would be grossly understated. It was more like an explosion of sound wrapped in an array of flashing lights against a backdrop of colorful geometrical images. But as anyone who’s vaguely familiar with the group knows, that’s how the Wooten Brothers roll and boy did they ever Friday, Oct. 14 at the venue in downtown.
The band is comprised of four brothers who all sing and play their respective instruments led by Victor, a five-time Grammy award-winning bass player like none other who really could have handled the entire night as a solo act. Wooten is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and teacher who (from 1990-2011) was the bassist for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and has played with many of the best of the best in the business, really! He incorporates a wide range of styles in his approach to his craft, his compositions and his career as a master of the electric and upright bass as well as the cello.
However the night’s performance was a showcase of the band’s talents collectively as well as individually as each member was featured momentarily at certain points throughout the show. The band created a wall of tightly knit jazz-fused-R&B-funky syncopated sound bonded by their years of growing together musically since their formation in the early 80’s at their home in Newport News, VA.
The show featured different stories Victor and Joseph told of their history as a family bonded by music and love. Between songs Wooten told of growing up as the youngest under the tutelage of his musical brothers with guitarist Regi as the oldest and the one who taught him how to play.
The Wooten’s, known for their innovative flair and showmanship, showed off as guitarist Regi and Victor locked face-to-face mid-stage in a cross-fingering interplay move whereby each played the other’s instrument simultaneously never missing a beat.
Halfway through the show Joseph sang and rocked his keyboard stack through a medley of popular tunes by Stevie Wonder and others as the audience joined in. As a dedication, he told the story of a Norfolk State University music teacher Consuela Lee who was a great influence to him and his brothers who each attended the school.
“I named this tune ‘Consuela Smiles’ because I would like to think if she could see me now she’d be smiling to hear me play,” he announced prior to the tune’s count down.
Victor guided everyone through a rousing round of happy birthday to percussionist Roy aka “Future Man” – another Gammy award-winning family member. During his moment in the spotlight, “Future Man” took center stage playing a solo on a hand-held drum synthesizer strapped around his shoulder – bobbing and weaving to the beat.
For a little less than 2 hours the group rocked the walls of the hall packed with die-hard Wooten fans who clearly were engrossed – rocking and reeling right along with all the band had to offer. Most evident was the spirit of the brother’s unity, admiration and genuine respect they share for each other – a spirit that surely infected the audience as well.
Winding things up they kicked off a blast from the past with the brothers singing four-part harmony through a medley of disco-styled 70’s funk as James Brown’s Sex Machine that got the crowd on their feet ready to dance.
The groups energetic performance sent the crowd calling for more, to which the Wootens returned to the stage for one encore capping another great night at the Jefferson Center.
