Rhonda and Prince are on the cover of the June issue of Bass Player Magazine..

there is rather extensive article on Rhonda... (too long for me to recreate for you)

You should check it out though.

Rhonda is a fabulous bass player imho.

bkw said:

Most definatley - Im glad she's been able 2 hang around, I think she's great 4 the band.

Cool! Funny, the more and more Prince and band get in the news, the less thrilling it seems because it's becoming so common. Let's not lose our excitement for the world taking note! A year ago... heck, a few months ago... we all would've been ecstatic over just this one thing. Pretty awesome, eh? Rhonda on the cover of Bass Player magazine. Woo hoo! Much props.

Jasziah

THE best bass player Prince has ever had in his band.

EverlastingNow said:

She's good, but I don't know about calling her the best EVER. I would definitely call Rhonda the most improved bass player Prince has ever had. And now that she has improved, I would say that she is probably just a tad bit more well-rounded in playing styles than most. I mean, as much as I loved Sonny T, I can't see Sonny T creating the bass line for "The One". To each his own I guess, but Rhonda certainly works extremely well in the current NPG format.

The Bass Player website still has the Rhonda piece from the May issue up at the minute:
http://www.musicplayer.co...aSmith.htm

guess they'll update soon

FutureShock said:

I think that Rhonda is the best all around bass playa P's ever had. She is very diversed in her styles. Now Sonny T and Brown Mark are definitely very,very close! And plus she is better on the eyes 4 shooonuff!

ELBOOGY said:

I 4got about my boy Levi. He's up there 2 and definitley in the top 3. This just goes 2 show that P has had some very good musicians in his bands!

Thanks for the info.

It's good to see Prince in the media. Let's just enjoy it.

That's my baby! (Rhonda that is) I can't wait to see her and him on the cover. That's two magazines I have to buy now.

FutureShock said:

Okay if you're going to not agree, at LEAST name the bass player who is the best Prince has ever had.

Leighsa said:

It's an article on the lovely and talented Rhonda. It's for a worthy cause. Can't you re-create or give us a little bit from the article?

(Clears throat. Sings) "You can reach us by Trailway. You can reach by uh, all that other stuff too. We don't care how it gets here. Post it if you cannnnn."

Along with the upcoming issue of Guitar Player this will be good reading for all.

Thanks again.

Is this magazine available in the UK???

I'm sure most of it will be quite technical and go STRAIGHT over my head - ! - but it'll be interesting to see what Rhonda/Prince has to say...

If Larry Graham counts as a Prince bass player, he has to be the best one. I love Rhonda but Brownmark was no slob. I remember Prince saying in a Rolling Stone interview that he would not have bass in his music if he didnt have Brownmark. I say it is a toss up between him and Rhonda

She is so NOT the best ever...she's definetly the prettiest. N Larry...WHATEVER! Can he PLEASE just go AWAY!!!! Brown Mark was good back n the day

crenshaw62 said:

Well, I don't have the magazine at hand currently. It belonged to someone who is actually a bass player (go figure huh!) However I was able to read it...

The cover is Rhonda getting down on the bass... while prince stands next to her watching.. (with his hand on his chin... so hott!!)

Anyhow... in the interview she clues us in on some rather technical bass player stuff (which I really didn't understand

She does however talk about how Prince will let her do her own thing, but if he doesn't like what she's playing he's rather vocal about it and she'll adjust. She talks about meeting Larry Graham and how Vic Wooten taught her a bunch of tricks on the bass.

Basically... next month go to your local newsstand...(or guitar center)

It's in the June Edition.
-leighsa
Just cause I'm in the media, don't mean I'm a reporter!

As a bass player and who has listened to all types of funk bass playing throughout my 40 years.. it depends on what era of Prince's music you would say as to WHO was the best Prince bass player.

In my opinion (and a valid one @ that.) there really is no such thing as a Minny Bass sound. That whole slap/funk thing was introduced by Graham and kind of "chickengreased" by bass players Keni Burke and Charles Bynum & Robert Wilson (GAP band) who played with legenday gospel soul singer D.J. Rogers. If you listen to some of D.J.'s albums. (on the road again, its good to be alive, and self titled) then you'll know what im talking about. Even Terry Lewis himself has credited his technique to listening to bassist Keni Burke.

Prince merely took that style and blended it in to make it his interpretation. nothing wrong with that but believe you me.. there is no direct minny bass sound. The funkiest bass player for Prince IMHO is Brownmark. he is ridiculous. as far as playing other styles im not too sure of but the funk thing is his thing and none of the other bass players can touch him on that, period. Listen to the breakdown of "Baby im a star" from the live Purple Rain video when Sheila is playing the timbale as a snare and Prince has everyone start a moving train. Listen to Brownmarks funkiness on that section and you'll know what im talking about. Cats STILL talk about that section of the show and not even Sonny T can do that kind of funkiness (or maybe he can, i just haven't heard him play like that)

Brownmark is no joke

Bran

Who is this Rhonda?

BRANTE:

Although I don't totally agree on your sayin' that there isn't a Minneapolis Bass sound, I TOTALLY agree with you sayin' that Mark Brown was the FUNKIEST. And... He had the Prince style down, with the ghost notes, mutes, and funky swing.

Actually...besides Prince, Mark Brown is the ONLY Bass player that hits that style just right.

Rhonda is fantastic. She's also the reason I used 2 B on Prince's guestlist back in DC. It was a musical connection. She is truly funky, but no one except Mark can hit that style... DEAD ON IT.

Peace.

G.

EverlastingNow said:

My vote is for Sonny T, and then Levi and Rhonda are a tie, but I'd probably give the second place edge to Rhonda simply because she's been around longer and has more of a repertoire to judge. Sonny T is more "funk" but he can also be very jazzy when he needs to be. I don't count Larry Graham because I don't see him as a true NPG member. He's too well established in his own right. There are some aspects of "funk" where in my opinion, Rhonda doesn't put her foot down strong enough on the neck of the funk and just crush it the way Sonny T would. She has a tendancy to play everything in a smooth and delicate way... and that appears to be her strong suit which as I said seems to work well in the current NPG setup.

brante said:

I agree. I've said this all along. Larry Graham is the best Prince bassist ever and Mark is the funkiest after him. Rhonda has developed into a worthy addition to the band and is probably the best all-around bassist (she got rid of those goddamn five-strings and good things happened to the groove!). Sonny had a looser feel that became well-suited to the power trio and stripped-down NPG of the mid-'90s.

But you are dead correct about that breakdown section on the live video. There's shit like that all over recordings when he was in the band.

Giovanni777 said:

Hey Giov,

no problem man...we can all agree to disagree. It's just that the whole ghost notes, mutes, and funky swing thing was a prominent thing I'd see cats like Charles Bynum, Keni Burke play in churchs here in L.A. in mid 70's during D.J. Roger's reign in the gospel era. I know because I would sit and watch these cats throughout services and just study there style. It's the same vibe, trust me.. i wouldn't steer you wrong. If you haven't checked out D.J. Rogers albums, you should. you might possibly change your difference of opinion.

now Minny sound as a WHOLE!! now that's a different story. Prince is definitely the man who owns that and i have NO disagreements! He is the man for real.

good lookin' out Giov

Bran

Gotta lend my support to you on this one, Brante. That bit on the Purple Rain Live video is unbelievable! Don't get me wrong, Sonny was good for scales and so on, and when Levi 'rumbled' you knew about it, but Brown Mark's work on the Parade Tour is funky as f**k!

Rhonda - Prince's best?? - Absolute trumpery moonshine!!

Matt

moonshine said:

by the way.. i am in no way disrespecting Rhonda, I think she is an awesome player and has killer chops and has style and an image. She fits the NPG format very well and CAN PLAY no doubt. just wanted to get that out of the way.

Brante

FutureShock said:

Rhonda almost put her foot through the floor on SOTT at the Hall of Fame performance and DMSR on the Musicology tour earned her my vote.

I agree that it depends on the era but the fact of the matter is the Prince never settled for a lesser bass player after BrownMark who, IMO set a standard. There was never a Kirky J moment at bass now was there? Levi was cool and if I had to say there was a weak point in the series of bass players after BrownMark, it would be Levi, but that's only because I think that Rhonda and Sonny are so good. That said, Since BM I would have to say that Sonny T. is funkier than the lovely and badass Rhonda. (Just listen to Sonny live on Sexy MF and then listen to Rhonda Live on Musicology.....oh Lawd).
[This message was edited Fri May 14 1:45:07 2004 by Xtraordinary]

NPGMC has a photo of the cover in the news section of their forums

Well, I don't have the magazine at hand currently. It belonged to someone who is actually a bass player (go figure huh!) However I was able to read it...

The cover is Rhonda getting down on the bass... while prince stands next to her watching.. (with his hand on his chin... so hott!!)

Anyhow... in the interview she clues us in on some rather technical bass player stuff (which I really didn't understand

She does however talk about how Prince will let her do her own thing, but if he doesn't like what she's playing he's rather vocal about it and she'll adjust. She talks about meeting Larry Graham and how Vic Wooten taught her a bunch of tricks on the bass.

Basically... next month go to your local newsstand...(or guitar center)

It's in the June Edition.
-leighsa


Hi Leighsa,

It should be on newstands here any day.

I thought it would be here in June but the June issue of Guitar Player is in stores so Bass Player will be here shortly.

I was going to ask if you were a bass player.

Peace and positivity!

Cranshaw62






[This message was edited Fri May 14 13:27:44 2004 by cranshaw62]

cranshaw62 said:

The magazine is out, I picked it up at a Borders in Atlanta Saturday afternoon.