String Theory

Wooten is on a workshop-cum-concert tour of India,with friend and guitarist Prasanna,who runs the Chennai-based Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music. They’ve already covered Chennai,Bangalore and Kolkata. “I met Prasanna in Boston a few years ago and he’s been trying to get me down here for some performances ever since.” Wooten and Prasanna also conducted a workshop followed by a concert at Shanmukhananda Hall,Sionin Mumbai.

The five-time Grammy winner,who has mastered a variety of genres,has played with some of the best and well-known musicians in the world like The Dave Matthews Band,Prince,Bobby McFerrin and Chick Correa and bass legends Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller,with whom he formed the SMV trio. “That was the most recent concert that I thoroughly enjoyed,because I played with two of my heroes,” he explains,“But quite frankly,I think I’ve toured enough. I’m 45 years old and I’ve done a lot of performances. I think now it is time to share my knowledge.”

It’s this love for teaching that has made Wooten a popular choice for workshops and clinics. When asked if he prefers being a teacher to a performer,he dissembles,saying,“I always perform when I’m teaching. I like people to observe my process and it’s a good way to show them how music flows from life.” It’s been one of the basic philosophies of Wooten’s life that all humans are musical creatures; skills are only incidental. “We all instinctively dance and we all understand the emotions that a musician expresses through his work,even if we don’t understand his language.”

There are many things that the musician will take back from India—the hope that he can record an album with Indian artistes,a massive collection of Indian music,all gifted by well-wishers here—and a growing respect for Indian classical percussion. “I’ve really come to appreciate the way Indian percussionists think about and organise their music. They’re almost mathematical in their precision.”