I know Prince gets the most attention for his guitar work, but I just have to show some appreciation for his piano playing. I have NEVER heard anyone play piano quite like Prince. Now, I'm not saying he's the BEST so don't start throwing names at me. (I love me some Barber, Gershwin, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, etc. mmmkay.) I'm just saying that I haven't seen anyone play with that blend of funk, jazz, blues, pop, and a smidge of classical. Not to mention, the charisma and bravado of his performances is top notch. I took lessons for 10 years, and have never seen anyone play with that much enthusiasm at our recitals.

I just watched the piano set from the Dortmund Lovesexy show 4 times in a row. (although I backed up Strange Relationship about 7 times ) As I watched I thought, "He really IS the black Mozart!" His outfit helped. I could just imagine Prince strutting around Austria in the 18th century, rocking his long coat and heels. Anyway...

I admire his piano work so much. Maybe it's because I loved Elton John my whole life, and played piano myself. Whatever it is, I pay extra close attention when Prince is on the keys. His playing has a rawness and grace that really moves me. I would love for him to release another piano CD (in a way that allows more people to get ahold of it, of course) I haven't heard the first one, but I went to the ONA show, and just adored his piano set. There's something vulnerable and intimate about Prince just sitting at the piano, with a spotlight on him. Even if he bundled it with another album (ala The Truth) I would be happy. What do you think of his piano work? What are your favorite piano moments?

I agree. Some of his best work are his piano ballads (Dorothy Parker, How Come U Dont Call Me Anymore, Dionne, I Love U But Dont Trust U Anymore, etc.) I love it when he writes from the piano and drums. Interesting, clever, strange and beautiful arrangements usually transpire. They show the brilliant complexity of his musical mind.

UCant, you're right about Prince sounding entirely unique. All it takes is for me to hear one of those little descending fills of his to know it is him.

The Dortmund piano workout really is great. I think, however, that the ONA Live medleys were even better, not so much for his technical prowess, but his sensitivity to his own voice while playing. And the modulations! I know some of them (with the band, for example, in "Free/Starfish & Coffee") have to be rehearsed, but I really do wonder if he comes up with the others on the fly or if he practices them. He really does have a great harmonic palette in that while the chords he uses are not overly jazzy, they are extremely colorful.

jdcxc said:

One of my favorite performances of all time was when he played Dorothy Parker on Leno. The whole think blew my mind, but his solo was what really did it for me. Prince on keys =

Ice9sFine said:

Don't even get me started on Prince's jazz/fusion stuff! Oh man, I was in HEAVEN during the Rainbow Children and ONA era. His jazz arrangements, bold modulations, and experimental extended jams wowed me, and revamped my admiration and respect for his musicianship. I felt like he was speaking my language. I'm going to have to get ahold of that piano CD one of these days.

OK, that's enough from me.
[Edited 2/3/07 13:42pm]

UCantHavaDaMango said:

That title has already been taken... aka "the first great black composer"
http://chevalierdesaintge...Page1.html

Snap said:

Wow, thanks for the link. We didn't learn about him in Music History. (Are you surprised? I thought not.) I only called Prince that because I heard someone else say it before. I guess he's not. Never mind.

So, what do you think about "When the lights go down"? I always thought that was his best piano moment.

calldapplwondery83 said:

Great song. Also has cool use of percussion. Another example of the gems that can be found if you search. P does moody and space very effectively. Another great piano jam is "Avalanche". The arrangement fits perfectly with the themes of the song.

Is there any chance of P playing the piano at the SB? Some of my favorite P live moments are when he effortlessly switches between keys and guitar in the same song. What a genius.

At the "Jam of the year" concert I went to he played for ever on the piano while the band went off stage to chill...He said at point "I have Quincy Jones on tape saying that I am just am some what of an OK piano player." He then went into a long and beautiful solo and then said "That is way I keep my mouth shut."

I was nice....

Well, I love the 'One Night Alone' CD, which is a lot of piano playing. I love how Prince plays the piano, he is really gifted!

psychodelicide said:

Another gift Prince was given tickling those ivory's Quite gifted.

Billmenever said:

Definitely!

During my first experience seeing him live he played 'how come you don't call me anymore'...I think I fell in love right there...(with his piano playing) I'm a sucker for the ivories, but I think it's the passion that he conveys when he plays. I listened to One Night Alone for the first time in December and fell in love all over again. U're gonna C me, A Case of U....Arboretum! Damn he's sooo freakin gifted....he breaks my heart (as in its so good it hurts)...
[Edited 2/3/07 21:56pm]

http://www.prince.org/msg/7/216612


I'm in love.

M

I don't want to sound dunb, but what is the title of the piano CD that was mentioned? I love when P plays the piano!

brocklynn said:

"One Night Alone".

psychodelicide said:

Yeah, I pretty much NEED that CD! I'll get it one of these days. The piano set was my favorite part of the ONA show. He is so creative. Not only does he know exactly what to play, but he knows when NOT to play. The ONA tour was the first time I had ever seen Prince in concert, and his piano set was the icing on the cake, let me tell you!

UCantHavaDaMango said:

Oh yeah! I'm willing to bet that Amazon or Ebay would have the 'One Night Alone' CD.

They don't have it. It was only available back then through the club, then as a bonus with the ONA Live set and as download until the club closed. What was the name of that distributor that sent the NPGMC CDs? Maybe they still have it, but I don't think so.

Ah, yes, ebay maybe.

jdcxc said:

SB target audience is ROCK.

Snap said:

Great stuff. Thanks 4 sharing.

calldapplwondery83 said:

I just took a look on Ebay and found this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Princ...dZViewItem

They're selling it for $75.00 used.


Also, I found it on Amazon,com:

http://www.amazon.com/One...F8&s=music

They're selling it for prices between $27.41 (used) to $93.14 (new).

I'm not sure how much I paid for it when I bought it through the NPG Club. What's interesting is that both of these are the lived boxed sets, and not the "One Night Alone" CD that was the studio recording.
[Edited 2/4/07 11:25am]

psychodelicide said:

The studio recording is about $50.

Holy cow, look what I found, and for how much!!!! http://www.musicstack.com...nite+alone

M

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Yeah no. I will NOT pay that much for it!

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

HOLY COW!! Are they SERIOUS?? Damn!

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Holy crap, which currency is that???
[Edited 2/4/07 14:12pm]