What makes A Show of Hands by Victor Wooten notable?

The album received critical acclaim for its innovative blending of genres and helped solidify Wooten's reputation as a leading bassist in contemporary music. It features tracks like Classical Thump which have influenced many musicians and contributed to discussions on bass playing techniques. Released in 1996, A Show of Hands is Victor Wooten's debut solo album, following his tenure with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. At this point, Wooten was establishing his unique voice as a bassist and composer, showcasing his technical prowess and creativity outside the band context.

Who is A Show of Hands for?

A Show of Hands works well if you're into joyful grooves for dancing, short playful interludes included and uplifting vibes for gatherings.

How many songs are on A Show of Hands?

A Show of Hands has 15 tracks, running approximately 45 minutes.

Released 30 years ago

A Show of Hands

Victor Wooten · 1996

45 min · 15 tracks · jazz

A vibrant fusion of jazz-funk rhythms and virtuosic bass lines intertwine with soulful melodies throughout the album.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Classical Thump — This track stands out for its brilliant mix of classical influences with funk rhythms, showcasing Wooten's extraordinary technique and creativity.
→
U Can't Hold No Groove — Opening the album, this track exemplifies Wooten's ability to blend catchy grooves with intricate bass lines that draw listeners in immediately.
→
Me and My Bass Guitar — This song highlights Wooten's storytelling through music, where he explores his relationship with his instrument in a playful yet profound way.
→
Overjoyed — Wooten’s interpretation of this classic showcases his versatility as a musician, transforming a well-known song into a unique expression through improvisation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

73 /100

Alpine

Higher than 96% of albums we've rated

Wooten's debut showcases his virtuosic bass work and innovative compositions, blending jazz and funk effectively.

What we noticed

The first track opens with a complex bass groove that sets a high-energy tone, which is maintained through the next several tracks.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 9/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

joyful grooves for dancing
short playful interludes included
uplifting vibes for gatherings
virtuosic bass showcases throughout
soulful melodies spark connection

Maybe skip if you

seeking uniform track lengths
prefer straightforward song structures

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 1996, A Show of Hands is Victor Wooten's debut solo album, following his tenure with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. At this point, Wooten was establishing his unique voice as a bassist and composer, showcasing his technical prowess and creativity outside the band context.
Stylistic neighbors: Stanley Clarke· Marcus Miller· Michael Manring

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 U Can't Hold No Groove 4:09
2 More Love 3:30
3 Lotta Stuffis? 0:12
4 The Vision 5:35
5 Overjoyed 2:56
6 Live for Peace 0:05
7 A Show of Hands 5:28
8 Not Like the Other 0:40
9 Justice 4:00
10 Medley 4:30
11 Radio W-00-10 0:28
12 Classical Thump 4:39
13 Keep Chargin' 0:25
14 Me and My Bass Guitar 5:17
15 Words of Wisdom 3:08

What to play next

Listen next

What Did He Say?

1997

Full Victor Wooten discography Artists like Victor Wooten

bluegrass music jazz jazz-funk

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata