Both awesome, but IMHO I think Eric's style has always complimented Prince's sound a little better.

4 Prince? Eric by a mile.

There is no "Maceo vs Eric". Maceo is a sax LEGEND. That like saying Stevie Wonder vs Alicia Keys.

Eric fits Prince because he is a part of Prince's earlier sound. Eric and Atlanta Bliss are LARGELY part of Prince's sound going bigger. Before that, it was synth horns all the way. All of those great jams during the SOTT concert era are testament to Eric's value in Prince's camp. A lot of arrangements are circled around horn parts.

But that is in PRINCE'S MUSIC.

As a solo sax player, he isn't even on the grid.

Maceo, on the other hand...

Let's see... Maceo's an icon known for playing with a legend. Eric Leeds is an extremely talented sax player known by diehard Prince fans as one of Prince's principle horn players. Prince fans tend to associate Eric with the sound that coincided with the most successful Prince years. The "Mountains" solo, the "Hot Thing" solo, the SOTT concert movie, the Family.

But, if you look at where Prince's sax home base is, I think Maceo is more representative of what Prince seeks. Maceo cropping up in the 2000s was the logical conclusion for Prince after years of Maceo disciples being employed. I will say Maceo was Prince's musical destination as far back as Eddie M's addition and Candy's incorporation into his overall sound in the 1990s. Both Eddie and Candy have phrasing that's a lot closer to Maceo's, funkier, scrappier. Eric's chops are more lyrical. And Eric has chops for days, no question.

This isn't the first time Prince has gravitated toward a certain kind of player or had a player model a certain style. If you listen to Prince's bass playing in the early years, he has the Minneapolis rumble going on with flashes of Larry Graham. Mid-90s, Rhonda gets hired. He teaches her the rumble but has her switch gear for Larry's Fender slap sound. The late '90s roll around and there's Larry in the fold. Prince has similar gravitations, when it comes to female vocalists. The Ike-Tina fan in him will always have a Tina-type screamer or someone who can go there when needed.

Pomade said:

Let's see... Maceo's an icon known for playing with a legend. Eric Leeds is an extremely talented sax player known by diehard Prince fans as one of Prince's principle horn players. Prince fans tend to associate Eric with the sound that coincided with the most successful Prince years. The "Mountains" solo, the "Hot Thing" solo, the SOTT concert movie, the Family.

But, if you look at where Prince's sax home base is, I think Maceo is more representative of what Prince seeks. Maceo cropping up in the 2000s was the logical conclusion for Prince after years of Maceo disciples being employed. I will say Maceo was Prince's musical destination as far back as Eddie M's addition and Candy's incorporation into his overall sound in the 1990s. Both Eddie and Candy have phrasing that's a lot closer to Maceo's, funkier, scrappier. Eric's chops are more lyrical. And Eric has chops for days, no question.

This isn't the first time Prince has gravitated toward a certain kind of player or had a player model a certain style. If you listen to Prince's bass playing in the early years, he has the Minneapolis rumble going on with flashes of Larry Graham. Mid-90s, Rhonda gets hired. He teaches her the rumble but has her switch gear for Larry's Fender slap sound. The late '90s roll around and there's Larry in the fold. Prince has similar gravitations, when it comes to female vocalists. The Ike-Tina fan in him will always have a Tina-type screamer or someone who can go there when needed.

And there it is

Maceo is a legend and amazing performer. However, I prefer Eric, as to me his playing is magical; he influenced so many iconic Prince songs and the jazz angle wins with me. I find him truly inspirational as a musician. Can't wait to see fDeluxe!!

HuMpThAnG said:

Pomade said:

Let's see... Maceo's an icon known for playing with a legend. Eric Leeds is an extremely talented sax player known by diehard Prince fans as one of Prince's principle horn players. Prince fans tend to associate Eric with the sound that coincided with the most successful Prince years. The "Mountains" solo, the "Hot Thing" solo, the SOTT concert movie, the Family.

But, if you look at where Prince's sax home base is, I think Maceo is more representative of what Prince seeks. Maceo cropping up in the 2000s was the logical conclusion for Prince after years of Maceo disciples being employed. I will say Maceo was Prince's musical destination as far back as Eddie M's addition and Candy's incorporation into his overall sound in the 1990s. Both Eddie and Candy have phrasing that's a lot closer to Maceo's, funkier, scrappier. Eric's chops are more lyrical. And Eric has chops for days, no question.

This isn't the first time Prince has gravitated toward a certain kind of player or had a player model a certain style. If you listen to Prince's bass playing in the early years, he has the Minneapolis rumble going on with flashes of Larry Graham. Mid-90s, Rhonda gets hired. He teaches her the rumble but has her switch gear for Larry's Fender slap sound. The late '90s roll around and there's Larry in the fold. Prince has similar gravitations, when it comes to female vocalists. The Ike-Tina fan in him will always have a Tina-type screamer or someone who can go there when needed.

And there it is

I think that line of logic is partly why Prince music is so hard to digest now. He has 'improved' the technical profeciency of every player in his band. The results though are just dull. He has 'improved' his worldview. The results though do not make for a more enjoyable songs or concerts or really anything. I can't fault Prince for wanting to do better, but I honstley do not appreciate his version of "better". I think most of his changes over the years have been for the worst. Maceo included.

funksterr said:

HuMpThAnG said:

And there it is

I think that line of logic is partly why Prince music is so hard to digest now. He has 'improved' the technical profeciency of every player in his band.

No way. The current incarnation is far from the most technically proficient group he has assembled. Maceo excluded. From Ida, to Andy, to whomever is playing keyboards, they are all playing for scale. But for this tour he did not require much more.

leonche64 said:

thebanishedone said:

leonche64 said:

No way. The current incarnation is far from the most technically proficient group he has assembled. Maceo excluded. From Ida, to Andy, to whomever is playing keyboards, they are all playing for scale. But for this tour he did not require much more.

what do you mean?if we exclude andy all others are proffesional musicians,no weak links except that awful fake andy

I was responding to the other post. They are professional, but not the most "technically proficient" to fill their prospective roles in the band. When it is said that someone is "playing for scale", it means that they are making basic pay, as they don't have the reputation or experience to command a premium, or a quote for their services. Prince is notorious in the industry for this. So instead of Divinity Roxx, he gets Ida Neilsen. Instead of Orianthi Panagaris, he gets Andy.

thebanishedone said:

Man orhianti is the worst guitar player ever had.her playing beat it is a blashemy.but still she's much better then andy

Well, I don't know if she is the worst. I have seen her play with Santana and Clapton. If they think she is good enough....

And in regards to Andy, in any othe band in the world she would be playing tamborine.

leonche64 said:

thebanishedone said:

leonche64 said:

Well, I don't know if she is the worst. I have seen her play with Santana and Clapton. If they think she is good enough....

And in regards to Andy, in any othe band in the world she would be playing tamborine.

that have more to do with rhe fact she's a girl.orianti is nothing special on guitar and jennifer batten would kill her on a six string

Oh, now there is a guitar player. BUT, she is a little long in the tooth for the NPG.

This isn't meant to be a thread criticising the quality of either player, nor making out that one is better player than the other... it is a thread asking a question about which 'sound' fans of Prince's music prefer from their sax-man.

I prefer Eric Leeds. He may not have the reputation of 'legacy' (yet) of Maceo Parker, but I prefer the noise he makes and how it augments Prince's sound - this may indeed be as a result of the fact that Prince and Eric composed and recorded together as their creative juices were being juiced... as opposed to Maceo, who ploughed the creative field long before Prince and Eric got theirs going...

That said, as I have mentioned in previously, I find the key moment to be in the 1985 Syracuse concert... listening to Eddie M play (sounding suspiciously like Maceo or 'Maceo-lite') and then hearing Eric come onstage. There is no comparison, to my ears - personal preference thang -; and, this is very early in their collaborative process too.

That's all I'm saying. I'm not saying Maceo isn't a legend/terrific musician, I'm saying - when it comes to sax, I like Eric.

BoySimon said:

This isn't meant to be a thread criticising the quality of either player, nor making out that one is better player than the other... it is a thread asking a question about which 'sound' fans of Prince's music prefer from their sax-man.

I prefer Eric Leeds. He may not have the reputation of 'legacy' (yet) of Maceo Parker, but I prefer the noise he makes and how it augments Prince's sound - this may indeed be as a result of the fact that Prince and Eric composed and recorded together as their creative juices were being juiced... as opposed to Maceo, who ploughed the creative field long before Prince and Eric got theirs going...

That said, as I have mentioned in previously, I find the key moment to be in the 1985 Syracuse concert... listening to Eddie M play (sounding suspiciously like Maceo or 'Maceo-lite') and then hearing Eric come onstage. There is no comparison, to my ears - personal preference thang -; and, this is very early in their collaborative process too.

That's all I'm saying. I'm not saying Maceo isn't a legend/terrific musician, I'm saying - when it comes to sax, I like Eric.

Dude, YOU named the thread "Maceo Vs Eric". How did you think it was going to go?

True, but I also implied.... I know implied that this was a thread that discussed the merits/suitability of their playing and Prince's sound. I did not mean this to become a Maceo is a legend shut up, no Eric was there from the start, fuck you who are you to say that James Brown's Saxophonist, James Brown's, isn't the most talented saxophonist who ever walked the earth? I'm not, I'm merely stating that Eric Leeds makes anoise with a saxophone .....

This is not an MTV site where Vs means fight against each other. I actually thought that this would be a merit based argument.

and one that Eric Leeds would win!