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prince's jazz sensibility heavily influenced by eric leeds..as this vid highlights Beautiful profile of madhouse and mr eric leeds and his partnership with prince
(PLease dont move this to asscoiated artists...this guy deserves a wider aaudience)
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Thanks for the video!
New seen this video. Great to hear Mr. Leeds talk about his influences...He's one of my favourite Prince collaborators... |
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Interesting video. Wow, Eric seems to have the some of the same jazz and funk influences as Prince, as he mentions James Brown being one of his major jazz and funk influences, and was amazed by the setup of James Brown's horn section, when at 15 years old, he stood at the side of the stage watching James Brown's band rehearse. It's no secret that James Brown, was a major influence in Prince's music/stage performances as well, that goes without saying. Eric also mentioned being exposed at a very, early age to Rhythm & Blues and Jazz music, and saw musicians like Herbie Mann, an Afro-Cuban musician, Thelonious Monk, and James Brown perform. States he was also inspired by Ray Charles' music.
Eric stated that once he joined Prince's band, Prince gave him the opportunity to stretch his jazz skills, and he was able to contribute to arrangements and ideas musically. He also said that out of all the pop icons within that last decade that he has met, Prince was the only one who was a 'natural musician', that had the musical instincts, to play his instruments, and all kinds of music in different contexts, to make the music sound authentic. Eric also names some of the same music influences that Prince mentioned in an Ebony magazine interview (2011?), where Prince stated that Chuck Berry, Little Richard, James Brown were some of his influences, as Eric has mentioned those were some of his as well. So it's not surprising, that Prince and Eric blended well as musicians, when Eric was part of Prince's band. Eric also mentioned his love for Afro-Cuban music, and how Afro-Cuban music is like a bridge between jazz and funk. He mntions working with Matt Bliston. That 3 second take of Eric and Matt Bliston performing together sounds awesome. I need to find the vid for that. Eric has performed with the best of the best. I really enjoyed Eric's time with Prince especially during the 'Sign of the Times' era. [Edited 4/6/13 8:39am] | |
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definitely a positive musical relationship between Prince and Eric - influencing and learning from one another. Prince was surrounded by jazz as a child of course - with his parents - so this must have been absorbed by him - even if subconsciiously at that young age. We have heard many times how Prince is like a sponge when it comes to absorbing the best of what he feels he can take from any given scenario / talented person. Prince also saw James Brown live when he was a child so was exposed to the jazz funk thing James had going on with his band. So I think Prince already had jazz influences embedded within him prior to Eric joining his band. Sure, those infleunces hadn't come out that much on record pre '86 (though splashes can be heard in the first 2 albums) as Prince was going for that thing with his music and band/s at the time - not because he wasn't able to and/or aware of jazz, I don't feel. [Edited 4/6/13 7:08am] | |
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(Bolded parts) Co-sign on the with bolded parts of your post, because as you mentioned Prince's exposure to jazz when he was young, was from parents. His father who was a jazz musician, and had a jazz band, named "The Prince Rogers Trio". Also, I read sometime ago, that Prince's mother was also a singer. So it is clear where Prince obtained his earliest, jazz influence from his parents. So yes, Prince was exposed to jazz and other forms of music very early in his life, much earlier than working with Eric.
I can see how it was easy for him and Eric to blend their skills and knowledge of jazz and funk together though. Eric referring to Prince as 'a natural musician', because Prince already had the skills to understand and embrace Eric's jazz/funk talent. Not to mention, both Prince and Eric were exposed to not only jazz and funk at a young age, but also rhythm & blues, and other forms of music, as Eric mentioned his own love for Afro-Cuban music from an early age, and being exposed to the music of Afro-Cuban musician, Herbie Mann.
[Edited 4/6/13 8:03am] | |
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Nice find. | |
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Eric Leeds (and Eddie M) are the only 2 sax players that when I hear them I think 'Purple Music'
I would say that not only did Eric Leeds influence Prince's jazz sensibilities, but that he came in at the high time in Prince music creativity, that the Parade/Dream Factory-SOTT music influenced his playing as well
It was a very unique time period
Also Eric played violin and flute, and I love his flute playing on certain songs like Power Fantastic
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^ yes, ever since i heard the Parade Birthday concert i can't stop hearing Poplife without the flute
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Yep, that was a nice sound
definately a welcomed addition,
I loved the America video hearing Eddie M & Eric side by side, Eric had a more cool relaxed vibe, and Eddie was saucy and wicked at times
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^
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I love that man, and his playing. It's like music directly from heaven to me. Gotta dig out my copy of Times Squared tonight. Thanks for posting! No confusion, no tears. No enemies, no fear. No sorrow, no pain. No ball, no chain.
Sex is not love. Love is not sex. Putting words in other people's mouths will only get you elected. Need more sleep than coke or methamphetamine. | |
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It's weird hearing Eric talk.
I love his sound and his contributions to the music. An he seems so damn affable. "Climb in my fur." | |
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yeah and he has never ever seemed phased by Prince's fame | |
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OldFriends4Sale said:
Eric Leeds (and Eddie M) are the only 2 sax players that when I hear them I think 'Purple Music'
I would say that not only did Eric Leeds influence Prince's jazz sensibilities, but that he came in at the high time in Prince music creativity, that the Parade/Dream Factory-SOTT music influenced his playing as well
It was a very unique time period
Also Eric played violin and flute, and I love his flute playing on certain songs like Power Fantastic
Yes I was surprised to see him playing the flute. I don't believeI have heard all the songs on the Parade album, and truth be told never knew about that group Madhouse, until I saw that group mentioned by fans on the former npgmc Prince fan site in 2004. [Edited 4/6/13 19:01pm] | |
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Parade has a beautiful 'spring/summertime' flow, U have to hear it along with the bsides Eric a played a few different kinds of horns too
OMG I remember that 1987 period like yesterday, the single SOTT and Madhouse. Hard to explain that kind of 'new excitement' but the Madhouse project feel like some songs from the Family lp like Yes, (outtake Feline), hearing Erics sensual playing on the Family album I love
Have u heard the 2 Madhouse albums or seen the videos?
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I think most of that early group were like that, but they also respect who he was and what he was doing
That's why I like that mid-late 1985 - 1986 period so much because it was the beautiful music after the storm of Purple Rain, when the initial hugeness of the PR era was over you saw the people in the camp with Prince just mellow out with him and create a vast 'vault' of music | |
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jonylawson said:
yeah and he has never ever seemed phased by Prince's fame I'm not sure I understand your comment. The "phased by fame" thing is a fan response. A professional in the music business tends 2 remain professional regardless of who walks in the room. It is about the only way 2 maintain respect. | |
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Dr Fink said some thing about the new members during the GBridge era, who it seemed they were phased by Prince's fame
I understand what you are saying though
But even Prince was phased by the fame/success of other entertainers (like the We Are the World event) he said he would not have been able to function in that setting because of many of the people there and their success
I guess there are a few bad ways a persons fame can 'phase' a person??
and may 1 or 2 good ways...
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Theatre Du Verdure, France 10.27.1985
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yeah i meant eric never appears too reverential regarding Prince......
everyone else will wax lyrical on hisn genius from larry to miles to maceo to wendy etc but eric just kinda chills!! | |
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