ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

I had known about Wendy playing Bass on Wendy & Lisa records and I knew that Levi played Bass with Sheila then Prince before "officially" switching to Guitar, but I do not believe that Sonny was every credited with playing Guitar on any album and I did not know that Sheila also plays Guitar and Bass (I don't know if she has been credited on those instruments either).

But like you said, that kind of fluidity and technic do not happen overnight, which probably added to my perseption that if you play Guitar, that is what you do.

Again since I am not a musician, I do not know how much practice time it takes to maintain that high of a skill level on one instrument, let alone multiple instruments. I mean we are talking some of the best of the best....yourself, Sheila E., Sonny, Levi, etc...I had assumed that to play at that level, it takes hours a day on one instrument, so in general, I didn't think there would be much time left to master other instruments....I guess some people must be putting int 10, 12, 14 hour days .

sacredwarrior said:

11 pages of questions on THIS thread alone. There were two other threads before this one...so THANK YOU Michael!

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

For a new St. Paul album? Something else?

Hi Michael,

1.Could you describe how the Miami'96 recording sessions went down? As far as I know, most songs had already been committed to tape prior to these sessions (like "The Same December" '94/95). So was it basically a process in which you guys polished previously recorded material or were songs completely re-worked?

2.Alicia Keys once mentioned that Prince showed her most of the pianos that he owns, and that one of them had the lyrics of "How come u dont call me anymore?" engraved on it. My question is if Prince has ever showed you the warehouse where he stores instruments he does not use anymore, and if you saw an instrument that called your attention for any special reason.

3.Speaking of instruments, have you ever seen Prince playing an instrument other than the ones we all know he can play(voice,guitar,bass,keys,drums,percussion...)?

Thank you,
[Edited 8/4/06 3:31am]

bigwillpreacher said:

prince decided to have a chair designed for sonny.. none of us know the reason why... probably 'cause prince thought it would look funky..

michael b.

Levi said:

1. i didn't say that.

2. it ranks high.

3. kinda mad, 'cause we had just been fired, prior to that..


michael b.

perdido said:

1. i'm sure someone tells him what's going on..

2. i'm sure someone has told him what's going on.. i don't know. i don't really think i've said anything offensive or untrue.. all my opinions are my own, and i've stated that. i don't think i've gone out of my way to interpret for him, or answer any questions i'm not qualified to..


michael b.
[Edited 8/8/06 1:47am]

Sowhat said:

education.. a class at ipr..

michael b.

zxcvbnmmnbvcxz said:

1.we re-recorded drums and bass for
"chaos and disorder" and one other song, i think. prince played us"in this bed i scream", "my computer" and "the holy river".. then, me and sonny went out for sushi with cesar sogbe..

2. nope.

3. nope. he told me once, that he played saxaphone on the score for "purple rain"..

michael b.

Hi Michael. What does your musical future hold? Who would you particularly like to work with?

goosebumps said:

it holds more gigs with soul asylum.. that's all i'm planning to do.. that's all i wanna do..


michael b.

Mike i've heard a rumor that at one time you were slated to be the drummer on the 2001 Drowned World Tour by another one named artist is that true?

ehuffnsd said:

yes. i believe the entire story is well documented on one the "bland is back" threads...

michael b.

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

coolio! i'll have to go find it

Michael,

Can you tell me anything about the plexiglas Hammond B3 that Prince used? Was it his idea, etc.?

Also, aside from the Sign O The Times movie, I never heard Prince jam on the B3. Have you heard him, and if so what did you think of his playing?

thanks!

-j

Michael,

What do you think of Morris Day as a drummer?

sitruk7 said:

he's funky.. what?

michael b.

alexandernevermind said:

he's funky..

michael b.

Mr. Bland,

What are your opinions on Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson?

I have my own... I'm interested in hearing yours.

Thanks...

Peace

Jay

jayARDAHB said:

madonna- after spending three days with her, i have all the respect in the world for her. her strong suit is not necessarily singing or songwriting, but pure vision, and follow through.. she sees what she wants, and keeps flexing till she gets it. how can you not respect that?

justin timberlake- obviously, a talented individual. nothing innovative, or particularly interesting to me, about him.. i'd rather listen to an usher record, if it's between the two, for real..

michael jackson- every time i try to throw the book out on MJ, i hear an old track, or i see some new footage, and i am reminded how bad that dude really was/is.. i dunno what to say.. sure, he's got issues, but purely as an artist, there's nobody like him.. sonny and i heard the second disc of HIStory, a couple years aback, by chance while on tour in italy.. man, we broke our neck, trying to get to the record store when we got back here!!
that was one of ther last new records that really excited me.. honest!!


michael b.

Hi Michael,

Have you ever listened to any of Wendy and Lisa's albums? Just curious on your thoughts if you have.

I seen them live with Abe Laboriel Jr in their band, and besides you he's the only drummer who has ever rattled my teeth. Any thoughts on Abe??

Thank you,

Jesse

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Thanks for responding!

I'm surprised by your comments on Madonna. Clearly her strengths are not singing and songwriting and that, to me at least, illustrates part of what's wrong with popular music. One of the reasons I've followed Prince for this long is because I'm impressed by the idea that one person being great at pretty much everything - singing, songwriting, dancing, producing, playing and recording.

MJ used to be bad! But at the same time, I don't think MJ is bad without the assistance of an outside producer. I don't care too much about the personality issues, etc. As for the music - he's safe and too contrived to be taken seriously. Although, it would've been incredible to hear that man do an unplugged session with us really being to hear his voice.

What do you think of Prince now?

Thanks Mr. B!!

Peace!

Mike, on the subject of Jef Lee. Somethings the fans and you may find interesting.

I got into JLJ around 95. That was because of his association with Tal Ross on that solo album and also because of his guitar player feature that they had a write up on.

In 97 he released Communion and I was happy to see him back. His slide guitar version of Giant Steps is crazy. I decided to write him a letter. Are you ready for this? Sit down. In the letter I suggested that he works with Michael B/Sonny T /Tommy B of the NPG. I said it would be magic. I remember when Sons of almighty was announced and I thought my dream had come true. I had willed it to happen and god said "Okay, just this once"


2 weeks later I got a mail back and a demo tape of previously unreleased work. I still think to this day that happened because he remembers what I said about having to work with them when he met you guys.


I would also like to say something that alot of people will be surprised to hear. J is also a gifted lyricist. He has a gift prose that is anomaly for most musicians to be that gifted with words. See "Seen Irene" "Burn your fields on Down" "Singularity" "Hype Factory" etc

A little while back he released a anonymous saxphone laden project that used influences of Maceo/Ornette/Coltrane/Dolphy. The concept was every song had Monkey in the title. It was called "Monkey Zero" I dunno if you heard it but it's so avant garde it's crazy. The surprise is Jef's ability prowess on the sax as a amateur.


- J has released over 10 solo records in 10 years. Most of the work he does is on his tascam and in a lo fi demo quality. When he really gets into the studio and is able to flesh things out that's when he really has the magic. And for Jimi fans I want you to know he does a impeccable version of Rainy Day Dream Away with everything down to a tee on how the Electric LadyLand lp sounded. Even the sax part is there. And J does it all in his house.
I still dont have his last 2 records released in france. And I bet those are killer.

-Mike I don't know if you know this. But the Paris Gig you did with J is booted on video and on P2p sites in rarely seen. If you want I can share with the others what I have. But you know I wanted you to know what you though of. It looks like you guys were having fun.



-AllaboutJazz has the ultimate interview with Jef. It's great.
So much amazing info to read and he really opens up. I think this is probably going to be the only one of it's kind for his life since he is such a quiet private guy.


http://www.allaboutjazz.c...on2002.htm


Check it out. You will bug out at how deep his history is with everyone in the musical stratosphere he was involved with.
[Edited 8/14/06 8:46am]

EverlastingNow said:

yes.. i like their albums, alot. especially, eroica..
abe's a pro.

michael b.

jayARDAHB said:

prince is a genius. but, that doesn't mean i'm always turned on by what he does with his abilities..

michael b.

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Could you share some examples?

I agree with you - some of his records are great examples of 'what-could have been'!

Again, thanks for responding!

Also, what do you think of what I said about MJ and Madonna not being all that without an assist from an outside producer?

Peace