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Hello NPGMC,

The 3121 Report: Vanguard Jam

How does one top receiving a Vanguard Award from the NAACP (broadcast March 25th on Fox)? You throw a get down, funk-filled, momma-thank-you-for-going-thru-16-hours-of-pain so that I can experience this moment!

PRINCE, is a true VANGUARD hero (defined as the forefront of an action or movement) -- and I knew he was definitely going to make it a point to prove it! Gotta hit 3121 tonite! I whipped out my cel phone and dialed my contact: So am I in? "No I'm sorry the list is closed." What do you mean the list is closed? You always sneak me in! "No, its a private party." They are always private parties! Come on, please!! "Really, why are you such a nuisance? Haven't you been to enough parties?" NO! You got me hooked now you're going to leave me without my hit? Silence on the other end of the phone. Hello? Can you hear me? Can you hear me now? "Yes I can hear you. *Sigh* Just you, and you alone. You come with anyone else and you will not be allowed in." Click.

YES!

"Thru the gates, knock on the door... " Well, I didn't have an opportunity to do so, as the hostesses opened the door replete in purple embroidered tops. Nice. Purple is the theme tonite! Upon closer inspection, I noticed they all had "3121" necklaces and earrings... hmm interesting. I make my way to the kitchen after gaping open mouthed for at least a full minute at the five foot tall chocolate fountain of yum -- I glance around and notice all the servers and chefs are in "3121" gear. Okay, so maybe the theme isn't purple but "3121".

I pass by the bar and pick up an M&M but instead of an M -- its "3121"!! "Okay, what's really going on here?" I ask the patron next to me, who just happened to be Angela Bassett! She smiled that ever so famous grin, and said "Party at 3121!" Prophetic words indeed because within ten minutes of uttering said phrase, the house was full! Oprah, Salma, Orlando Bloom, Jaime Foxx, Gabrielle Union, Gary Dourdan, Tavis Smiley, Dr. Cornel West, regulars Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Regina King, Kimberly Elise, director Taylor Hackford, Sheila E, ?uestlove, Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, Christina Aguilera, Lynn Whitfield, Moriss Day, Jerome Benton, Steve Baltin, JJ Abrahams, Mekhi Pfiefer, Randy Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Wanda Sykes... oh lawd, fuggedaboutit. I don't have enough energy to go through the whole constellation because I had to save it up for THREE HOURS of hot licks, sick riffs and SOUL!

Party initially started at 11pm but didn't truly start until 4:15am! That's when the crowd was bombarded with classic jams insanely reinvented by PRINCE and his house band. If I were truly in my right mind I would have remembered all the joints covered, but alas -- I was too drunk on that funk!

What I do remember was a drum off with John Blackwell and Cora Coleman! Lawdy! You could smell bacon cookin' from all the heat on them skins!

Then a voice out of nowhere: "the drums are calling, Sheila E.. the drums are calling.." Miss E appeared in full glory and taught John and Cora a lil' sumpthin. Just when that synchopation nearly re-set my heart beat... here comes ?uestlove and Cora for round 3! Kat Dyson on guitar, Prince on Hohner, Greg Boyer on trombone with two other cats from Sheila's band...

Too much, too much! and then.. .and then!!!! STEVIE WONDER? GOOD LAWD say it ain't so!!

Tell me I cannot see through walls at the red lanterns paving a path to that distinctive symbol as a backdrop to historic jams? Am I dreaming?!?!

What? Me? In Prince's living room, he's only TWO feet away and directing this complety phenomenal group of talented musicians? All Prince had to do was nod and they KNEW. Their eyes never left him as they were playing the skin cells off of their fingers. Keys were pounded and begged for mercy. Strings were broken but kept their tune, skins were beaten like a red-headed step child! The place was INSANE! And I thought I was either gonna pass out or make out with my contact for allowing me the privilege of being present at 3121.

The night ended at 7am. As I left, there to the left was a last supper of omlettes and discourse by Joni, Prince, Stevie, Herbie and a select few.

The bright sun greeted me wildly brilliant as if to say, "You know what just happened, Right?" Oh Lord, thank you.

As I waited for valet to retrieve my car I glance over to the left and see a photobooth with a sign that says "Please take 2 sets of fotos, 1 4 U, 1 4 our host!"

Hmmm..

Somewhere in Prince's house there's a pile of photo booth pics and in the midst of them, there's a snapshot of someone grinning like a chesire with crude sign that says THANK YOU. Thats me.

"3121 - U can come if U want 2 but U can never leave"...

Love4oneanother,
The NPG Music Club

http://www.prince.org/msg/13/138606

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