http://news.tbo.com/news/...KHJTD.html

Prince Proves Himself As King Of Funk

By CURTIS ROSS cross@tampatrib.com
Published: Apr 27, 2004

TAMPA - ``This is real music. Played by real musicians,'' Prince said about 45 minutes into his St. Pete Times Forum concert Monday night.

``We don't believe in lip- syncing,'' he told the crowd of 19,076. ``We believe in funk.''

Of course he and his band had been proving that since the house lights went down.

And they drove the point home over the course of the evening.

Yeah, Prince believes in funk. And from the sound of it, he also believes in jazz, blues, soul, rock and pop.

The crowd, which was on its feet even before Prince hit the stage, roared its approval as he opened with the infectious title track to his just-released CD, ``Musicology.''

Prince raced through many of his most famous numbers soul-revue style - the crowd barely had time to applaud a familiar riff before he was off to the next tune.

The result was exhilarating, making the show feel more like a party than a concert.

``Little Red Corvette,'' ``I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man'' and a gorgeous ``Sometimes It Snows in April'' were part of an acoustic set that displayed Prince's formidable guitar skills as well as his sense of humor: He chastised the crowd for missing its cue on the background vocals for ``Cream.''

A lengthy medley incorporating Alicia Keys' ``Fallin' '' featured James Brown-style screams and splits.

His band, including a four- piece horn section, was superb, fleshing out his tunes and earning the spotlight during brief solo portions.

Prince closed with a near- ecstatic version of ``Purple Rain'' that cut the studio version to slim ribbons.

If there's anything to criticize, it's that the show was so action-packed that it went by in a blur.

Prince might want to incorporate an intermission into his set next time - he's a tough guy to keep up with.

Reporter Curtis Ross can be reached at (813) 259-7568.

gamillah said:

"A lengthy medley incorporating Alicia Keys' ``Fallin' '' featured James Brown-style screams and splits. "

splits?

That's what I thought - splits? I didn't think Prince did the splits anymore, but if he still does, more power to him.

http://www.sptimes.com/20...soul.shtml

Another review of this show from the St. Petersburg Times

violator said:

Prince's battle with Sony? I think they WB. Both are great reviews.

if Prince really did the splits, someone who attended would've started a seperate thread about it.....in caps with exclamation points

Darn! that means I missed a very good show. I
would of love to have been there. Can't stop my heart
from loving you, no matter what you do baby.

I was at the show and I didn't see him do any splits.

Maceo Parker was with him though...is this the first tour date he's been with Prince?

He (maceo) was in Columbia, SC and Prince didn't do any splits....And Purple Rain was recorded LIVE!!! It wasn't a "studio" version...Ok...I'm being picky....

This is just evil. They have a retrirement plan ad on the same page!