Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey (Bass Extremes). Credit: Steve Parke
Today, Bass Extremes-acclaimed bassists Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey-release S'Low Down, their third album and first in two decades; link/buy here.
In support of the album, and in celebration of their 30th anniversary, Bass Extremes is on the road with longtime touring mate Derico Watson locking down the trio. The national tour continues through November 20; a complete list of dates is below, and tickets are on sale here.
Leading up to the album's release, the duo shared videos for two tracks: "Home Bass" featuring Ron Carter, Marcus Miller, and John Patitucci; and "Just-in Time" , a massive, gnarly groove that's a study in tone, attitude and note durations and features Tool's Justin Chancellor.
The 10-track album features a variety of legendary musicians, including Ron Carter, Bootsy Collins, Marcus Miller, Oteil Burbridge, Justin Chancellor, Linda Oh, Edgar Meyer, John Patitucci, Billy Sheehan, Joe Dart, and more. It also includes some unexpected collaborations, including banjoist Bela Fleck on bass banjo, jazz guitarist Mike Stern on 6-string bass, Howard Levy on bass harmonica, and Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band) on both bass clarinet and bass flute.
Recorded over 18 months between their Myrtle Beach, Nashville, and Boston studios, in typical Bass Extremes fashion, the music was composed with Bailey and Wooten each functioning as bassist, composer, sound engineer, and producer. The duo utilized conventional and unorthodox approaches, which included spontaneous improvisations as well as melodies and harmonies inspired from Gregg Bissonette's solo rhythm tracks, conjured by the confidence garnered from his 30-year partnership with the duo.
A key to the record's concept lies in the album's title. The first of dual meanings is clear, this album is about the 'Low Down of the bass, while the "S'Low Down" offers deeper implications. "As you get older and wiser you learn how to say more with less," explains Wooten. "We tell our students that a lot, 'slow down.'" Bailey concurs adding, "For most musicians, myself included, you spend the first part of your career proving what you can play and trying to innovate and get it out there. What this album typifies for me is, been there, done that. Now it's about what's the least amount we can bring to the music and still make it work. How we can move slower and actually go faster."
Formed in 1992, Bass Extremes was an unprecedented morph of a musical album, instructional method, and concert video, all rolled into one. Pushing the "extremes" of what can be done on a 4-string fretted, and 6-string fretless bass, this cutting-edge project changed the trajectory of bass and its community with the idea that two bass players and a drummer IS the band.
With two ground-breaking albums-CookBook (1998) and Just Add Water (2001) - to their credit, their original Bass Extremes became one of the best-selling bass instructional products of all time that launched a cottage industry allowing the two to double as performers and educators at shows, industry events, clinics, universities, concerts worldwide, and the creation of their popular and perpetual 'Bass Camps", along with the innovative learning web experience, thebassvault.com. As Chair of the Bass Department (Bailey) and Performance Scholar in Residence (Wooten, they helped take Berklee College of Music to new Highs, and unprecedented Lows.
'S'Low Down' coverart
S'Low Down Tracklisting with Special Guests
01.Ready, Set , Slow (Bootsy Collins) 02. Home Bass (Marcus Miller, Ron Carter, John Patitucci) 03.The Chrome Addict (Susan Hagen, Oteil Burbridge, Howard Levy, Bela Fleck, Jeff Coffin) 04. Mess That Up? (Matt White, Mike Stern) 05. Ping Pong (Edgar Meyer) 06. Oh Tell Billy (Linda Oh, Oteil Burbridge, Billy Sheehan) 07. Patchwork (John Patitucci) 08. Silent Night In Tunisia (John Patitucci, Joe Dart, Whit Browne, Mike Pope) 09. Just-in Time (Justin Chancellor) 10. S'Low Down
