http://new.blackvoices.co...0305.story

Rock review, Prince at the Chicago Theatre

By Joshua Klein
Metromix.com

As early as his late-'70s debut, Prince demonstrated an almost pathological disdain for expectations. The diminutive genius made it clear that he would dictate the direction of his career, making up the rules as he went along.

Prince remains as unpredictable as ever, and though he's no longer the commercial juggernaut he once was, his sheer talent still shines, undiminished by time and passing trends. His most recent release, "The Rainbow Children," may be thematically inscrutable, but musically it stands with some of the best work he has ever created.

Religion played a big part in Prince's performance at the Chicago Theatre Saturday night, the first of two sold-out shows and only the second date on his tour. Adhering to a previous public declaration, Prince abstained from profanity and veered away from his more sexually charged material. The result was a strange mix of lesser-known songs, a healthy dose of "The Rainbow Children" and only a handful of hits and rare gems to reward the faithful.

A good deal of "The Rainbow Children" could be categorized as jazz fusion, and predictably, Prince's take on jazz probably wouldn't satisfy most fans of the form. It sure satisfied Prince, however, who led his air-tight band through several lengthy Weather Report-like instrumentals, cueing bassist Rhonda Smith, drummer John Blackwell and saxophone legend Maceo Parker like a conductor. Prince himself blazed away on guitar, channeling Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana with each of his fluid yet fuzzy runs.

New songs such as "Muse 2 the Pharaoh" and "Mellow" may have been too, well, mellow to spark the crowd, but "Family Name" and particularly the kinetic funk of "1+1 is 3" brought everyone to their feet. Prince also led spirited and faithful covers of Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" and the Delfonics' "La La (Means I Love You)."

As for "the hits," Prince's set was short on his classic material. He did offer a rousing "When You Were Mine," "Take Me With U," "Starfish and Coffee" and an apparently spontaneous "Raspberry Beret," which forced his band to switch gears mid-song. From "1999" and "Lovesexy" came not the singles, but the somber "Free" and "Anna Stesia," respectively. Sitting at his piano he offered the moving B-sides "Sometimes It Snows in April" and "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore."

But then the proselytizing Prince implored people to read the Bible and embrace Christ. So far Prince fans have proven willing to follow their favorite wherever he leads, but who knows if they'll all follow him down this particular path.
Copyright © 2002, BlackVoices.com

Can't wait for the D.C. shows! Sounds like it's going to be a very different kind of concert, subject-wise.

Hmmmmm..... now where did I park my Prowler?

Um...this is the Chicago Tribune review...lol...we keep repeating reviews, only under new names...

The man is incredible!

Another good one!
Now give us some european dates!

I'm with you, Michael - we need some little man!

disdain4theunfunky said:

.....i ain't sayin a gotdamn thing.