I had an impromptu jam with Victor at Green Valley Music in Watsonville Santa Cruz when he was already set up for a conservatory performance but there was about a good hour before everyone showed up. I first played a store guitar off the shelf and an amp I wasn't familiar with an even though I was not at my best I got lots a compliments and friendly advice. The I told him that I also played bass, and he insisted that he play guitar and I play bass. It was one of the most influential moments ever. He showed me the double picking with the thumb and I haven't gone back. What a great person. So positive and helpful. People say he has a big ego. Well.... he should.
I met Victor after a Flecktones show in Knoxville, he and Bela were both friendly and humble- it was around the time of Live Art- what a fantastic show-
Whats unique about him is, he was teaching his techniques and in the end of the session he said you can learn all the fancy stuff but it wont get you a gig.. Took me years to understand what he meant..
The most fabulously funky ( or terrifying if you are an aspiring bassist !) man to ever wrap his fingers around the neck of a bass - from Jackson Wyoming we LOVE you Victor - your music is SO beautiful!!! and your great book The Bass Lesson !!! You are inspiration !! Mind blowing performance here !!
He often plays on what is referred to as a 'tenor bass' or in 'tenor tuning' which is a bass strung A-D-G-C rather than E-A-D-G. Also he has mastered (grand-mastered?) fingerstyle, tapping, slapping, harmonics, and strumming (using an outward flick of his fingers) and can effortlessly blend them together.
It pains me when he gets ahead of himself and starts flubbing all over the place, which is pretty evident in his solos from many videos. Mad skills, but not always a clean exit.
@@meticulouslytender8921 Should have told him to get some ears and a metronome, victor only swings by about 1 bpm if even that without one haha. This is impeccable playing. ( I only measured for about a minute in the begginning though )