Amazon.com Customer Reviews
What happened here!!! :-( - Review written on April 12, 2008
Rating: 1 out of 5
8 customers found this review helpful, 6 did not.
The playing is technically fantastic and the grooves really do roll.
This goes for the playing of all involved here -but what's with some of those keyboard solos...as if the player was looking to break some speed record and had forgotten all about the things that make good solos.The prime example here is the first tune.-COME ON, PLEASE!!!
I find the pieces to be weak at best ( not the grooves and rhythms , just for what end they are being used here). The percieved lack of dynamics is also giving me a bit of a hard time.
I love howard levy's playing but here he is just not given an adequate vehicle to shine. He does help a little tho-and his leaving the flecktones is still something... well a real shame!!!
To me , with his departure, something special left that band which has not been regained.
He's just incredible ( his contributions to donald fagens latest album are another case in point. here he plays extremely well in a real good song..."what I do" has an extended levy solo. To my ears ,perfect within it's conext)
Richard Bona helps a little as well ...he is the one thing I like about " I saw god" a fantastically repetative and preachy cheesefest of a song.
Thanks very much tho for "song for my father" , this horace silver tune helps a little as one has heard it so many times , covered by everyone but the neighbors' cat. It's a classic for a reason. The inthusiasm about this horace silver tune lasts at least until one has actually heard the version on this album.
I really like "what did he say" tho. A previous wooten album.
That one is to me a very interesting , extremely well played , humorous and musical album. At least for the most part.
I would recommend that album any day when compared with palmystery.
A beautifully crafted album with a sophisticated, subtle sound. - Review written on April 09, 2008
Rating: 4 out of 5
21 customers found this review helpful, 3 did not.
"Victor Wooten's "Palmistry" comes closest to handling matters the best by giving him a fair amount of personal space even if surrounded by busy arrangements and African background voices. "The Lesson", for instance, is a duet that features only bass and a rhythm box along with hand claps".Pittzburg Tribune
Guest musicians on his new album are Mike Sternon guitar, Richard Bona on percussion and vocals, Karl Denson on tenor saxophone, Keb' Mo' and several others.
Just the very first spins of the first trach make clear his position as a top notch bass player (he is the veteran bassist of Béla Fleck & the Flecktones) and an excellent composer.
The tracks are all original compositions with the exception of Horace Silver's "Song For My Father".
The musincianschip is fantastic and Victor is on the top of the game.
This a an excellent mix of jazz fusion, blues, gospel, funk and world and the album is very enjoyable for both instrumentals and vocals.
My favourite tracks are : "2 Timers", the middle-eastern tinged "Combo", "I Saw God," which features Richard Bona among its vocalists and the Spanish rhythm flavoured "The Lesson".
Victor's fans will want this for their collections. It's one of his best CDs out there.
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