[UPDATE 2/25/21]: It turns out we’re not alone in our obsession with this clip of Victor Wooten playing a solo rendition of “Amazing Grace” from Béla Fleck & The Flecktones‘ Live at the Quick. In an interview/reaction video recently published to YouTube, Cory Wong speaks about how this particular live album “gave him permission” to pursue his own unique, “left-of-center” musical ambitions before turning popular online guitar teacher Michael Palmisano on to Vic’s magic. Check out the clip below.

Cory Wong & Michael Palmisano React – Victor Wooten “Amazing Grace” Solo – Live at the Quick

[Video: Michael Palmisano]

[Originally Published 3/6/17] Back in middle school—when Linkin Park was the best band in the world and the burned, un-edited copy of The Eminem Show that I kept hidden from my parents was my prized possession—a classmate showed me a video of this guy in a technicolor vest performing a solo bass rendition of 18th century hymn “Amazing Grace”. In my adolescent ignorance, I was unaware of just how much you could do with a bass guitar, and this guy left me speechless, eyes wide and jaw dangling. He was covering multiple parts at once, slapping, playing harmonics, tapping, laying down a relentless groove, speeding up, slowing down, changing his tuning on the fly—while making it all seem supremely easy.

Vic Wooten’s Masterful Cover Of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” Never Gets Old [Watch]

The guy in the video, it turned out, was Victor Wooten, the world-renowned bass virtuoso. That video was my entry point. From there, I dug into more of Vic’s work, explored the work of other amazing bassists like Jaco Pastorius, and began to appreciate the music I already knew and loved in a new light (i.e. Paul McCartney‘s bass work on Rubber Soul is utterly perfect).

Of course, like anyone, my music tastes have evolved and broadened over time, and even music that I still hold dear doesn’t get much playtime these days. There’s just so much great music out there, and so little time. But to this day, I still watch this video of Vic Wooten playing “Amazing Grace” on a regular basis. It’s undeniable. He’s just that good.

Check out the video of Victor Wooten performing “Amazing Grace” solo on the bass guitar—easily one of the best things you can find on YouTube—below via YouTube user bandatito:

Victor Wooten – “Amazing Grace” Bass Solo

**Video is part of Béla Fleck & The Flecktones‘ 2002 live album/DVD, Live at the Quick, recorded at the Quick Center For The Arts in Fairfield, CT in 2000.**

To keep up with Victor Wooten’s various projects, and to find out where you can catch him live, head to his website.