PREVIEW: Four Fantastic Wooten Brothers Play Troy Monday

The Wooten Brothers started early and have kept on, keeping on. They play the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Monday as one of America’s preeminent soul/R&B/funk crews.

More than half a century ago, they opened for the late, great Curtis Mayfield on his “Superfly” tour. The eldest Wooten, guitarist Regi, was 14; the youngest, bassist Victor, was five. In between: keyboardist Joe, drummer Roy and saxophonist Rudy (RIP 2010). Each is a virtuoso; as a family band they’re formidably unified.

As I reported in the Gazette of their Massry Center show in March 2020, “They welded individual skills into a synapse-quick ensemble when their birthdays still numbered single-digits; 40 years later, they’re one mighty groove-and-solos machine.

“Sunday they reached back to high-flying soul songs recently rediscovered on their first demo cassette, also to similar-vintage chestnuts by Sly Stone, James Brown and other giants.

The Wooten Brothers, Plus One – At the Massry Center at the College of St. Rose in spring, 2020, they were, from left: Regi “the Teacher” Wooten, guitar; Bob Franceschini, saxophones; Roy “Futureman” Wooten, drums; Victor Wooten, bass; and Joe Wooten, keyboards.

“After Victor challenged the band to riff in complex times, from busy 11/8 to the sudden silly silence of 0/8, Joseph led the hit-it-and-quit-it climax of odd intervals. The last giant unison blast hit after 45 beats. As they chatted, walked around, put down their instruments, of course, they never lost the count; delighting the on-its-feet cheering crowd with one last ferocious funk stroke.”

Victor, the youngest Wooten, is arguably the greatest electric bassist since Jaco Pastorious, best known of the brothers and leads the Wooten Brothers Monday.

He’s as prolific as he is powerful, on 14 albums with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (drummer Roy “Futureman” is also a Flecktone), plus 10 albums as a leader, six more with Bass Extremes and other collaborations, and one with his brothers, “Sweat.” This album, and songs recorded decades earlier between their main gigs, supplied the repertoire for their most recent area appearance, also at the Hall.

Onstage, they perform a program, a song cycle built on family lore, including honoring their late saxophonist brother Rudy, and on a shared life-long love of soul music, jazz and pop. 

He’s played here many times, from our biggest venues (SPAC, MVP Arena) with the Flecktones to the cozy Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs in a duo with drummer J.D. Blair, in funky instrumental combos at The Egg, the Massry Center at the College of St. Rose and elsewhere and several times with his brothers since their “Sweat” album hit.

Victor also educates students in his music-nature camp outside Nashville; and he’s a singularly sweet modest man, always gracious to fans.

Once when son Zak couldn’t make it to a Wootens show at the Egg with me, I approached Victor at the after show-merch-table meet and greet and told him Zak was ailing and couldn’t make it. We’d met before, so Vic knew who I meant. When I handed him a blank note card and a pen, he laughed and wrote a sweet get-well message to Zak. It worked, like his music always does.

The Wooten Brothers play the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (30 Second St.) on Monday. Showtime: 7:30 p.m. VIP (pre-show meet & greet, Q&A, sound check access, limited edition poster) $94.50; concert only $44.50, $34.50, students $15. $4 processing fee per ticket, additional facility fee and venue fee may apply. 518-273-0038 http://www.troymusichall.org.