Superconductor said:

Marco81 said:

Because i would not have at the same time a npg twitter with all new horn players tweeting a link to a song were other horn players had played on. Thanks michael for confirming!

Sorry, I am confused. The hornheadz is not the same as NPGhornz? So who is who?

-

Yes, the original NPG Horns(z) are synonymous with the Hornheads(z),

which is the horn section that started with Prince in 1991 as part of the Diamonds and Pearls tour

and continued touring and recording with him throughout the 90s.

In the last few years, the Hornheadz have again recorded with Prince extensively

(Extraloveable Reloaded, Boyfriend, Groovy Potential, Andy Allo project, and many yet to be released tracks).

Prince continues to use the name NPG for his live band and horn section, which has had many

different members over the past several decades. The 11 piece horn section that is part of the

current NPG are not the Hornheadz. Hope that helps clarify things.

[Edited 10/5/13 9:22am]

MrMoops said:

Superconductor said:

Marco81 said: Sorry, I am confused. The hornheadz is not the same as NPGhornz? So who is who?

-

Yes, the original NPG Horns(z) are synonymous with the Hornheads(z),

which is the horn section that started with Prince in 1991 as part of the Diamonds and Pearls tour

and continued touring and recording with him throughout the 90s.

In the last few years, the Hornheadz have again recorded with Prince extensively

(Extraloveable Reloaded, Boyfriend, Groovy Potential, Andy Allo project, and many yet to be released tracks).

Prince continues to use the name NPG for his live band and horn section, which has had many

different members over the past several decades. The 11 piece horn section that is part of the

current NPG are not the Hornheadz. Hope that helps clarify things.

[Edited 10/5/13 9:22am]

MrMoops, were you disappointed with Prince that he did not choose the earliest incarnation of the Hornheads, which he has been using since '91, to augment his latest sound with the 11-piece horn section? It just seems odd/strange that he using an entirely different line up to the horns players he has enjoyed for over 20 years.

SpiritOtter said:

MrMoops said:

-

Yes, the original NPG Horns(z) are synonymous with the Hornheads(z),

which is the horn section that started with Prince in 1991 as part of the Diamonds and Pearls tour

and continued touring and recording with him throughout the 90s.

In the last few years, the Hornheadz have again recorded with Prince extensively

(Extraloveable Reloaded, Boyfriend, Groovy Potential, Andy Allo project, and many yet to be released tracks).

Prince continues to use the name NPG for his live band and horn section, which has had many

different members over the past several decades. The 11 piece horn section that is part of the

current NPG are not the Hornheadz. Hope that helps clarify things.

[Edited 10/5/13 9:22am]

MrMoops, were you disappointed with Prince that he did not choose the earliest incarnation of the Hornheads, which he has been using since '91, to augment his latest sound with the 11-piece horn section? It just seems odd/strange that he using an entirely different line up to the horns players he has enjoyed for over 20 years.

-

We worked with him from 1991-2001 and then again starting in 2011. He did use a variety of other

horn players in the 2000s (Greg Boyer, Maceo, Candy, Mike Phillips, etc)

But to your question, after doing some recording with him in 2011 and early 2012, he did talk to us about the possibility of joining the band again,

so my true disappointment is that circumstances didn't allow us to do it this time around.

After that, he started a search for the new guys, so there are absolutely no hard feelings,

and we've had an amazing stretch of recording over the past 2 years for which I am very grateful.

I do feel a little jealous of the guys that are doing it now, and remember what a rush it was to perform with him live,

but I also know what kind of commitment is required and know it wasn't in the cards for us.

We're still in contact, and I send him horn charts from our touring days from time to time,

and hopefully we'll continue working together in the studio, (we just tracked something new a few weeks ago)

So yeah, I do feel a little melancholy about the whole thing, but everything has it's time,

so I wish the new horns well. I know a few of the players, and they are good guys and very talented.

MrMoops said:

SpiritOtter said:

MrMoops, were you disappointed with Prince that he did not choose the earliest incarnation of the Hornheads, which he has been using since '91, to augment his latest sound with the 11-piece horn section? It just seems odd/strange that he using an entirely different line up to the horns players he has enjoyed for over 20 years.

-

We worked with him from 1991-2001 and then again starting in 2011. He did use a variety of other

horn players in the 2000s (Greg Boyer, Maceo, Candy, Mike Phillips, etc)

But to your question, after doing some recording with him in 2011 and early 2012, he did talk to us about the possibility of joining the band again,

so my true disappointment is that circumstances didn't allow us to do it this time around.

After that, he started a search for the new guys, so there are absolutely no hard feelings,

and we've had an amazing stretch of recording over the past 2 years for which I am very grateful.

I do feel a little jealous of the guys that are doing it now, and remember what a rush it was to perform with him live,

but I also know what kind of commitment is required and know it wasn't in the cards for us.

We're still in contact, and I send him horn charts from our touring days from time to time,

and hopefully we'll continue working together in the studio, (we just tracked something new a few weeks ago)

So yeah, I do feel a little melancholy about the whole thing, but everything has it's time,

so I wish the new horns well. I know a few of the players, and they are good guys and very talented.

Wow. What a beautifully articulated, honest and heartfelt response. I really appreciate your candour, as I am certain others on this board do, too. Just out of curiosity, given that you were potentially around the Paisley recording process during the following dates, how would you analyse the peaks and troughs for you (artistically speaking) in terms of the recorded output you were asked to contribute to? For example - did you enjoy playing horn parts during 1993-1995 (the Come - Exodus and Gold Experience era) more than the 1998-2000 (the Newpower Soul - Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic era)? Additionally, regardless of the peaks and troughs, were there any particular songs (horn arrangements) that you felt particularly worked significantly well together compared to the rest (please note - I take for granted the high standards in general throughout the contributions). I am just trying to ascertain your own reflective process regarding the greatness (and less so great) studio work in Prince's ouevre during the period in question (1991 to 2001), as you see now looking back (or even at the time).

[Edited 10/5/13 11:58am]

MrMoops said:

SpiritOtter said:

MrMoops, were you disappointed with Prince that he did not choose the earliest incarnation of the Hornheads, which he has been using since '91, to augment his latest sound with the 11-piece horn section? It just seems odd/strange that he using an entirely different line up to the horns players he has enjoyed for over 20 years.

-

We worked with him from 1991-2001 and then again starting in 2011. He did use a variety of other

horn players in the 2000s (Greg Boyer, Maceo, Candy, Mike Phillips, etc)

But to your question, after doing some recording with him in 2011 and early 2012, he did talk to us about the possibility of joining the band again,

so my true disappointment is that circumstances didn't allow us to do it this time around.

After that, he started a search for the new guys, so there are absolutely no hard feelings,

and we've had an amazing stretch of recording over the past 2 years for which I am very grateful.

I do feel a little jealous of the guys that are doing it now, and remember what a rush it was to perform with him live,

but I also know what kind of commitment is required and know it wasn't in the cards for us.

We're still in contact, and I send him horn charts from our touring days from time to time,

and hopefully we'll continue working together in the studio, (we just tracked something new a few weeks ago)

So yeah, I do feel a little melancholy about the whole thing, but everything has it's time,

so I wish the new horns well. I know a few of the players, and they are good guys and very talented.

I know you can't name titles and other specifics, but can you reveal something about how much material was recorded? How many songs? Of course, if you can also say something about the style of music you recorded together, that would be great. Are the songs we've heard so far typical of the music you recorded the past two years?

MrMoops said:

SpiritOtter said:

MrMoops, were you disappointed with Prince that he did not choose the earliest incarnation of the Hornheads, which he has been using since '91, to augment his latest sound with the 11-piece horn section? It just seems odd/strange that he using an entirely different line up to the horns players he has enjoyed for over 20 years.

-

We worked with him from 1991-2001 and then again starting in 2011. He did use a variety of other

horn players in the 2000s (Greg Boyer, Maceo, Candy, Mike Phillips, etc)

But to your question, after doing some recording with him in 2011 and early 2012, he did talk to us about the possibility of joining the band again,

so my true disappointment is that circumstances didn't allow us to do it this time around.

After that, he started a search for the new guys, so there are absolutely no hard feelings,

and we've had an amazing stretch of recording over the past 2 years for which I am very grateful.

I do feel a little jealous of the guys that are doing it now, and remember what a rush it was to perform with him live,

but I also know what kind of commitment is required and know it wasn't in the cards for us.

We're still in contact, and I send him horn charts from our touring days from time to time,

and hopefully we'll continue working together in the studio, (we just tracked something new a few weeks ago)

So yeah, I do feel a little melancholy about the whole thing, but everything has it's time,

so I wish the new horns well. I know a few of the players, and they are good guys and very talented.

P.S. What are horn charts? Can you provide any examples? And why would Prince be interested in these? (Clearly, you are speaking to a novice here).

[Edited 10/5/13 12:00pm]

Release it!

MrMoops said:

Superconductor said:

Marco81 said: Sorry, I am confused. The hornheadz is not the same as NPGhornz? So who is who?

-

Yes, the original NPG Horns(z) are synonymous with the Hornheads(z),

which is the horn section that started with Prince in 1991 as part of the Diamonds and Pearls tour

and continued touring and recording with him throughout the 90s.

In the last few years, the Hornheadz have again recorded with Prince extensively

(Extraloveable Reloaded, Boyfriend, Groovy Potential, Andy Allo project, and many yet to be released tracks).

Prince continues to use the name NPG for his live band and horn section, which has had many

different members over the past several decades. The 11 piece horn section that is part of the

current NPG are not the Hornheadz. Hope that helps clarify things.

[Edited 10/5/13 9:22am]

Ok, thank you!

MrMoops said:

SpiritOtter said:

MrMoops, were you disappointed with Prince that he did not choose the earliest incarnation of the Hornheads, which he has been using since '91, to augment his latest sound with the 11-piece horn section? It just seems odd/strange that he using an entirely different line up to the horns players he has enjoyed for over 20 years.

-

We worked with him from 1991-2001 and then again starting in 2011. He did use a variety of other

horn players in the 2000s (Greg Boyer, Maceo, Candy, Mike Phillips, etc)

But to your question, after doing some recording with him in 2011 and early 2012, he did talk to us about the possibility of joining the band again,

so my true disappointment is that circumstances didn't allow us to do it this time around.

After that, he started a search for the new guys, so there are absolutely no hard feelings,

and we've had an amazing stretch of recording over the past 2 years for which I am very grateful.

I do feel a little jealous of the guys that are doing it now, and remember what a rush it was to perform with him live,

but I also know what kind of commitment is required and know it wasn't in the cards for us.

We're still in contact, and I send him horn charts from our touring days from time to time,

and hopefully we'll continue working together in the studio, (we just tracked something new a few weeks ago)

So yeah, I do feel a little melancholy about the whole thing, but everything has it's time,

so I wish the new horns well. I know a few of the players, and they are good guys and very talented.

Thank you! There is nothing strange about it, things don't always line up. That's a musicians life. Hopefully you will perform with Prince again one day and in the meantime we hear you on some songs. Good luck!

MrMoops said: