NEWSLETTER

Jazz Funk Is In Good Hands: The Tour-de-Force Return of the Wooten Brothers

Some say jazz is dead. I say it just smells more funky 🤘

Through the advent of digital instruments, recording softwares, and online platforms, jazz musicians are greeted with an unprecedented amount of opportunities to explore new sonic territories.

One legendary band of brothers who have spent the past three decades leading the transformation of jazz are the Wooten Brothers. The long-awaited reunion of the Wooten Brothers has blessed the music world with a brand new tour to celebrate the brothers’ return to the stage.

Featuring Joseph (keyboards/vocals), Roy (percussion/vocals), Regi (guitars/vocals) and Victor Wooten (bass/vocals), this incredible family unit is bringing their music to thirteen cities across the US this fall. Listed by Rolling Stone as one of the “Top 10 Bassists of All Time,” Victor Wooten has captivated audiences for over four decades with his dynamic stage presence and unparalleled technical chops. Wooten’s eclectic repertoire includes collaborations with the likes of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Chick Corea, Dave Matthews Band, India Arie, Keb’ Mo’, and more recently, Cory Wong.

The Wootens kicked off their tour with a fresh single called “Sweat,” a fun, groovy, and seamless tune for those who crave a pep in their step as they get out of bed in the morning.

Although “Sweat’’ is far from the most intricate and musically inclined track the Wooten Brothers have put out to date, it nonetheless illustrates their impeccable abilities as individual instrumentalists, and collaborators. Having spent decades in the scene honing in on their crafts, seizing opportunities to work alongside alternative music groups (e.g. Steve Miller Band), and bridging the gap between the ‘new’ and the ‘old,’ it should appear as no surprise that the Wooten Brothers have managed to maintain their anthemic style of composition and lyrical execution, a key factor of their long-term success and longevity in this ever changing industry.

One specific attribute of their new single “Sweat” that confirms the aforementioned is their ability to manage space throughout the sonic arrangement of the track; the verse sections follow an easily digestible four-bar call and response format, the call consisting of Joseph Wooten’s singing over nothing but a teasing kick and closed hi-hat groove, and the response consisting of a lyricless, full ensemble jam highlighting the song’s hypnotic melodic motif. Stylistically, similar to the brothers’ older classics, “Sweat” blends elements of jazz, funk, soul, and even hints of rock, scratching multiple itches at once.

Earlier this year, I’ve had the honor of meeting and getting to know Joseph Wooten, whose warmth, youthfulness, and unbreakable passion for his art is as clear as day. Joe was kind enough to share a few words of wisdom over a pleasant Georgian dinner, and although I wasn’t astutely familiar with the band, I can say one thing for sure:

I left that dinner table as a fan for life.

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