Bassist Victor Wooten has confirmed an extensive tour as well as a new studio project. Recorded between dates with the original Flecktones, his new studio project Words & Tones features 13 songs (11 new original tracks and 2 cover songs) showcasing different female vocalists. Those vocalists include longtime friends Saundra Williams (Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings) and Divinty Roxx (Beyonce), as well as Wooten’s brothers and kids. New collaborations include a “smooth vocal performance” from Me’shell Ndegeocello, a duet featuring Joey Kibble (Take 6) and percussion from “Pedrito” Martinez.

Wooten will also release Sword & Stone, the instrumental rendition of the recordings. To make things more interesting, Wooten has added new arrangements, solos, instruments, and musicians to this CD. Each CD features a few songs not found on the other. On this tour, Krystal Peterson, a young singing sensation from Cincinnati, will make her first appearance with the Victor Wooten band. Also joining Wooten are long time cohorts J. D. Blair, Derico Watson, Anthony Wellington, Steve Bailey, and Dave Welsch. These touring musicians also appear on both new album. In fact, Peterson sings two songs on Words and Tones.

“Like the new records, I’ll make a slight departure from previous bands,” Wooten said in a statement. “This time around, I’ll be featuring a unique mixture of multi-instrumentalists. Fans can expect high energy, world-class musicianship, and as always, things they’ve never seen or heard before. The show will consist of mostly new music from my upcoming 2 new CD’S, but will also feature songs from my earlier releases, as well as original music from members of the band, including selections from 2012?, J.D.Blair’s new CD, which was just released on VIX Records.”

Victor Wooten’s summer dates

May 27 Chilicothe, IL—Summer Camp
May 28 Fort Wayne, IN—C2G Music Hall
May 29 Cleveland, OH—Beachland Ballroom
May 30 Millvale, PA—Mr. Small’s Theater
May 31 Washington DC—The Howard Theatre
June 1 New Haven, CT—Toad’s Place
June 2-3 New York, NY—Iridium Jazz Club
June 3 Annapolis, MD—Ram’s Head On Stage
June 6 Hudson, NY—Helsinki
June 7 Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Bowl
June 8 Glenside, PA—Keswick Theatre
June 9 Boston, MA—Paradise
June 29 Portland, ME—Port City Music Hall
June 30-July 1 Montreal QC—Montreal Jazz Fest
July 2 Ann Arbor, MI—The Ark
July 3 Lincolnshire, IL—Viper Alley
July 5 St. Louis, MO—Old Rock House
July 6 Fayetteville, AR—George’s Majestic Lounge
July 7 Lawrence, KS—Granada
July 12 Boulder, CO—Boulder Theater
July 13 Fort Collins, CO—Aggie Theater
July 14 Denver, CO—Cervantes
July 19-20 Oakland, CA—Yoshi’s
July 21 Junction City, CA—Trinity Tribal Stomp
August 4 Telluride, CO—Telluride Jazz