Bass Player Magazine has got a special on bass players of funk.

With Larry Graham on the cover, it also sports articles AND interviews with the likes of Marcus Miller, Meshell NedegéOcello, Bootsy Collins and LOADS more!

Also, it has a nice 'slave' period pic of Prince on bass AND a smallish interview!

Here's the transcript of the article;


Prince
Bandleader, producer

Though not really known as a bass player, Prince’s lines on such classics as “Let’s Work” and the Time’s “777-9311” prove that he is as accomplished on the 4-string as he is on the myriad other instruments he plays. An avowed disciple of Larry Graham, the artist formerly known as The Artist keeps things funky with ghost-notes, vibrato, and plenty of Graham-esque slap work.

How important is space in your music?
Space is what it’s all about. I’m always telling people in rehearsal you’ve got to shut up once in a while. Solo spotlights are fun and everything, but if you make music people want to hear, they’ll keep that tape. You can listen to one groove all night, but if everyone’s playing all over the place all night and not hearing each other- not respecting the [i/]music[/i]- ain’t nobody gonna want to listen.
Do you think playing both bass and drums on the record helps you find the groove?
That’s the thing about playing both bass and drums- the parts just lock together. Lenny Kravitz is the same way. If you solo his drum part on “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” it sounds like, hey- he ain’t that good.
But put everything on top and it comes together. He just gets high on the funk.
What’s your recipe for a great bass tone?
Larry Graham. That’s my answer- it’s all you need to know. Just write down, “Larry Graham.”
You seem to pay a lot of attention to the bass when you’re recording. Why does one of your biggest hits, “When Doves Cry, “ not have any bass on it?
“When Doves Cry” was the last song [on Purple Rain to be mixed, and it was sounding too conventional, like every other song with drums and bass and keyboards. So I said ”If I could have it my way it would sound like this,” and I pulled the bas sout of the mix. [Singer] Jill Jones said, “Why don’t you have it your way?” Sometimes your brain kind of splits in two- your ego tells you one thing, and the rest of you says something else. You have to go with what you know is right.
[Edited 10/7/05 15:00pm]

gooey!!!!!1

jonylawson said:

Jonyyyyy!
Go buy the mag!

HamsterHuey said:

ya mean jill jones? or is it like 'kill bill', where prince is running around with a sword chopping up ninjas dressed in smart cocktail party suits?

Anxiety said:

I like Kill Jones better, but have updated for you.

HamsterHuey said:

i like kill jones better too, with prince wearing a yellow jumpsuit and riding a pussywagon.