SpiritOtter said:

Maybe I missed this news, but was there a falling out between both parties? Tis a great shame, if so, as I imagine Mr "Madhouse" Eric Leeds would have brought a more seamless dimension to Prince's Montreux shows and recent studio work, as he did with his superlative contibution to NEWS.

Don't know about that. It's a different style. I think Eric Leeds is a bit overrated anyway.

paulludvig said:

SpiritOtter said:

Maybe I missed this news, but was there a falling out between both parties? Tis a great shame, if so, as I imagine Mr "Madhouse" Eric Leeds would have brought a more seamless dimension to Prince's Montreux shows and recent studio work, as he did with his superlative contibution to NEWS.

Don't know about that. It's a different style. I think Eric Leeds is a bit overrated anyway.

I'll take Eric Leeds over ANY sax player he's ever worked with on record or live. By a long shot.

Oh hell no. Eric is the best sax player Prince ever had on his albums. The best fit for his music overall. And in no way overrated.

Most likely Eric and Prince fell out over money or either how Prince can sometimes (often) jerk people around needlessly. That is purely speculation, but it's really probable.

Oh hell no! Leave eric outta it, cat's talented, witty & cool.

Oh hell no. Eric is the best sax player Prince ever had on his albums. The best fit for his music overall. And in no way overrated.

Most likely Eric and Prince fell out over money or either how Prince can sometimes (often) jerk people around needlessly. That is purely speculation, but it's really probable.

I agree totaly! Eric style is married to Prince's music.

TheDigitalGardener said:

Eric Leeds is the coolest bandmember Prince has had. What is is sad is that we probably haven't heard his best contributions to Prince's music.

Why do you think that?

[Edited 7/20/13 11:41am]

paulludvig said:

Eric Leeds is certainly in my opinion the best horn player that Prince has worked with in his career. This is not taking anything away from legends such as Maceo Parker, who have played with Prince. The main difference with Eric Leeds and any other horn player that has worked with Prince is that Eric is the only one which he has seriously collaborated with on projects and not just as a session player. There was serious musical chemistry between the two of them. He brought a jazz dimension to Prince and introduced him to new influences from the jazz world, Eric Leeds on the other hand was given free reign to work, collaborate and build up his studio craft for which he is on record as being particularly thankful to Prince.

Songs like Housequake and Hot Thing, Eric Leeds sax just drives those songs, to this day it still brings shivers down my back. The playing at the New Year's Eve Show is nuts. Equally as good is Crucial (not the CB version) where the sax playing is mindblowing, and I dont think that I'm alone in singing the praises of Madhouse, surely one of the few standout Paisley Park acts even if it was Prince and his band. It is what it is, we should just be thankful for the music they made together even if the likelihood that they may work together is minimal.

[Edited 7/20/13 14:08pm]

Eric Leeds is my favorite sax player of all the sax players Prince has worked with. Sure, Maceo is a legend and Eric of course respects him and looks up to him but when it comes to chemistry and Prince´s unique, trademark sound, there is no one like the one and only Eric Leeds.

And he is a very cool and funny person, too. I´ve met him and have spoken with him on two different occasions and he oozes class and style. Too bad that they´re no longer working together. The last time I saw Eric on stage with Prince was at the 2002 Paisley Park Celebration.

He added A LOT to Prince´s sound. I wonder what all the unused stuff sounds like. Eric mentioned in an interview on a page dedicated to Miles Davis that there are many songs he contributed to where Prince only used fractions of what he played. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker comes to mind.

-

I also like Eddie Minninfield but my favorite sax player with Prince will always be Eric Leeds.

I think that Prince sometimes used Leeds almost sound effect or sample. Or as a signifier (look here guys - here's a bit of jazz). With Leeds you kind of knew what you were going to get: That typical Leeds line (Rock Hard in a Funky Place is a prime example). A cool effect, but it's not that sophisticated.

I think Eric was a great player, but I didn't care for a lot of the arrangements he did. I prefer the Michael B. Nelson arrangements. I know it's all a personal preference, though.

paulludvig said:

I think that Prince sometimes used Leeds almost sound effect or sample. Or as a signifier (look here guys - here's a bit of jazz). With Leeds you kind of knew what you were going to get: That typical Leeds line (Rock Hard in a Funky Place is a prime example). A cool effect, but it's not that sophisticated.

There's a rumour that wisdom comes with age. Let's hope, it's true!

[Edited 7/20/13 15:07pm]

i usually hate the horn sections

but give me atlanta bliss and eric leeds ANY DAY

the difference between what these guys did and the horn sections of the 90's and 2000's is that, just in my own little opinion.. the newer horn sections intrude on the songs... but the horn from the 80's helped build the songs...

the 2 best examples for me are housequake and adore..... not to mention the sott and lovesexy tours.. just insane how all these different sounds blended together for something really special.

itsjustaroundthecorner said:

i usually hate the horn sections

but give me atlanta bliss and eric leeds ANY DAY

the difference between what these guys did and the horn sections of the 90's and 2000's is that, just in my own little opinion.. the newer horn sections intrude on the songs... but the horn from the 80's helped build the songs...

the 2 best examples for me are housequake and adore..... not to mention the sott and lovesexy tours.. just insane how all these different sounds blended together for something really special.

Of course, at that time everything blended together incredibly. What was fun about those mid-late 80's songs is how the songs were built from all these tightly interlocking bits. Everything seemed equal, everything seemed necessary. If I'm humming those tracks, I'm leapfrogging from bass to keys to drums to sax, because everything seems to be equally the lead. I'm not making this clear. But there was something different then. There's a lot of songs that I love after that, and a heck of a lot that I like very much--but not much that seems that intricately simple (yes, it's a bit oxymoronic--that's what was so incredible).

which one was that? romance 1600?

thebanishedone said:

I love Eric, but i feel he was overused by Prince.there is one Sheila E album ruined by non stop soloing by Eric

funkomatic said:

paulludvig said:

I think that Prince sometimes used Leeds almost sound effect or sample. Or as a signifier (look here guys - here's a bit of jazz). With Leeds you kind of knew what you were going to get: That typical Leeds line (Rock Hard in a Funky Place is a prime example). A cool effect, but it's not that sophisticated.

There's a rumour that wisdom comes with age. Let's hope, it's true!

[Edited 7/20/13 15:07pm]

Funny

Eddie M is with sheila e touring band cuz he was with her when we saw them on may 13 at the riverdale summer series....they did a very fine version of erotic city with him singing prince's part. it was much funk in the venue and she had two drummers....the bald headed black guy that she had was killing them skins.......but it started raining and she ended with glamourous life.

2020 said:

Whatever happened to Eddie M the sax player? Regardless Eric is a cool cat and definitely missed whenever horns are played

[Edited 7/22/13 12:04pm]

Eric Leeds is very talented, but I don't miss him at all. He was a good fit for what was happening then. Personally, I think that Mike Phillips plays rings around and stomps a hole in Eric Leeds, but that's my personal taste. Again, Leeds is an excellent player, but in the past ten years or so I can't say I've ever thought, "Man, I sure could use some Leeds right here."

1725topp said:

Eric Leeds is very talented, but I don't miss him at all. He was a good fit for what was happening then. Personally, I think that Mike Phillips plays rings around and stomps a hole in Eric Leeds, but that's my personal taste. Again, Leeds is an excellent player, but in the past ten years or so I can't say I've ever thought, "Man, I sure could use some Leeds right here."

Why doesn't Mike Phillips play 4 Prince anymore???

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

1725topp said:

Eric Leeds is very talented, but I don't miss him at all. He was a good fit for what was happening then. Personally, I think that Mike Phillips plays rings around and stomps a hole in Eric Leeds, but that's my personal taste. Again, Leeds is an excellent player, but in the past ten years or so I can't say I've ever thought, "Man, I sure could use some Leeds right here."

Why doesn't Mike Phillips play 4 Prince anymore???

*

As we all know, with Prince it could be any number of reasons, including he just likes working with different musicians. However, I also really like Marcus Anderson’s playing. So, much to the contrary of folks on this site, Prince seems to still be attracting excellent musicians to play with him.

Thanks orger's for the info on Eddie M!

Always enjoyed his sax playing and glad to see he's still playing with Sheila E

Loved his performance with P live on the Grammys of Baby Im A Star! EPIC

[Edited 7/22/13 9:05am]

paulludvig said:

I think that Prince sometimes used Leeds almost sound effect or sample. Or as a signifier (look here guys - here's a bit of jazz). With Leeds you kind of knew what you were going to get: That typical Leeds line (Rock Hard in a Funky Place is a prime example). A cool effect, but it's not that sophisticated.

I believe the truth is exactly the opposite of what you descirbe. The line on Rock Hard... is extremely sophisticated and it suggests some VERY complex harmony underneath. Otherwise, that track has no harmonic movement at all. Just a one chord vamp.

steakfinger said:

paulludvig said:

I think that Prince sometimes used Leeds almost sound effect or sample. Or as a signifier (look here guys - here's a bit of jazz). With Leeds you kind of knew what you were going to get: That typical Leeds line (Rock Hard in a Funky Place is a prime example). A cool effect, but it's not that sophisticated.

I believe the truth is exactly the opposite of what you descirbe. The line on Rock Hard... is extremely sophisticated and it suggests some VERY complex harmony underneath. Otherwise, that track has no harmonic movement at all. Just a one chord vamp.

Hm.. you have to explain that. If the basic track is just a one chord vamp with no harmonic movement at all, then the sax line is just added on without any necessary harmonic relationship to the music that it complements. Like an effect or a sample. It's not that sophisticated if it doesn't have to relate to anything in particular.

[Edited 7/22/13 12:26pm]