There's been several threads concerning guitar playing.

Of all those who've been in his bands over the years, which keyboardist(s) do you like and why? Please exclude Prince himself.

Technique in playing
Emotion/Soul in playing
Improvisation/Soloing
Demeanor when playing
Chording Style-unusual,unique
Classical Training and Input
Jazz Influence
Speed in playing
The Sounds utilized in songs(organ,pianos,synths,etc.)

Dr.Fink for Me Hands down.that Solo in "Head" is still tops as far Prince Bam-Board Solos IMHO.Lisa had a Nice Chord Touch as well especially on "Anotherloverholenyohead" Her Solo Takes Live were Nice IMHO.I've liked other Keyboard Players He has had over the Years but Fink&Lisa within the Band are my Favorites.now as far as Association Goes I'd say Jimmy Jam,St Paul&Ricky Peterson.

Superb thread. and a difficult question.
i dig renato's work a bunch. but since his term with
prince is quite new i won't choose him yet.

gee...does this include JIMMY JAM,st.paul,monte,etc.?

let me think about this for a while. i wanna play
some examples of each person's work then i'll give
you the final verdict.

you might want to refer to my new thread regarding
everyone's fave set of prince's band members.

my thread and this one are gonna be HARD!!!

:I: like Renato Neto as a superior player. However, as I like 2 create new sounds as :I: play them, Dr. Fink was the man here.

Then again, Tommy Barbarella on The Jam RIPPED it!!!

:I:'ll still go with Neto in the name of professionalism!

'dre

Does anyone have any info. on the kind of synths Prince used in the early 80's on songs like Controversy, Nasty Girl, Sex Shooter, She's always in my hair, The Bird etc..
I love that sound!! It is very similar to the George Clinton song 'Knee Deep'
Also, I love the drum sounds he used. I think it was a Linn Drum machine. He basically used the same 2 loops. The loop on 1999 is on Let's go crazy and Computer Blue. The loop on Little Red Corvette is on The Beautiful Ones, When Doves Cry and Raspberry Beret. The best example of this sound is just before him and Appolonia get frisky in 'Purple Rain' - I love this sound!!

gainsbourg said:

The main synths he used in those days were the Oberheim OB-8 and the OB-Xa. Love those sounds too.

Yeah, the Minneapolis sound!! I wish he'd use them again. Thanks.

Yeah, big up the Oberheim synth's!

Back 2 the subject at hand, the best players are (in order)

DR FINK - No question, No Doubt

Renato - The closest in 'nastiness' to Fink

Lisa - Great player, played phat chords to give a bigger sound

Tommy B

Prince's hair dresser in Graffiti Bridge - "Bang"

Morris Hayes - No doubt this guy is talented, but I had to put him last for the simple fact that apart from his solo on "The Jam", this guy seemed no different to Rosie or Boni on keyboards, he was never highlighted. I can't remember any type of solo on an official wax release in his time in the band (Fink had "Head", Tommy had "Sexy MF", what did Morris have???), and when he was interviewed by keyboard magazine in the late '90's, he came across as a goofy novice in total wonder as to why he was ever in Prince's band. He also sounded desperate, he mentioned several times that he hoped that Prince wouldn't axe him. It really came across as he had a lucky break, and he didn't know what Prince saw in him.

Fink & Lisa are my favs

Fink: well, the keyboard solo on "dirty mind" alone makes him my fav

Lisa: Always managed to play with one extra finger, she's a damn good pianst too
[This message was edited Wed Mar 19 18:29:45 PST 2003 by lovebizzare]

For years it was Fink for me...but I have to say that 'Nato just edged him out. Those of you who are able should seek out the version of 'Everlasting Now' from Fukuoka and check out his piano solo from the Latin breakdown. The cleanest 32nd note run I may have ever heard. INCREDIBLE!!!

I'm not gonna list my top 5 list, cuz I hate doing those things. But those two guys...I mean, you just GOTTA give to them.

-SWANGmakesacontribution

based on these prerequisites:

Technique in playing - Dr. Fink hands down. He was amazing on the synthesizer

Emotion/Soul in playing - Morris Hayes. He really brought out the soul in Prince's music with his work on the Hammond.

Improvisation/Soloing - Tommy Barbarella. Listening to boots from the 94-95 era, he was the only one who could hold a solo down. Renato Nato comes very close to that, but IMHO he just doesn't capture it like Tommy.

Demeanor when playing - Dr. Fink. He looked like a complete lunatic from 1980-1988. My favorite performance is the faces he makes in the Girls & Boys video.

Chording Style-unusual,unique - Lisa. Her chords were so abstract and fit effortlessly within Prince's music.

Classical Training and Input - Lisa hands down. Tommy B. was classically trained but in never came out in his work with Prince. Listen to the 1986 version of Data Bank or the live/extended version of Anotherloverholenyohead. If Lisa can start playing Bach (ish) chords on funk jams like those she must be a bad mutha shut yo mouf.

Jazz Influence - I really don't hear Jazz in anyone elses playing but Princes. Madhouse's One is his best performance IMHO.

Speed in playing - This is a toughie between Fink and Barbarella. But I'm more inclined to lean towards Fink due to the solos on Baby I'm A Star and Head.

and how about Prince as a keyboardist? Anyone who's seen him play live (especially those late-night Paisley Park jams or aftershows) knows he's got some mad chops too, just oozin with funk.

DreZone said:

The opposite of Neto is Oten!!!

Dr.Fink

I did enjoy Lisa's talents as well.

Can't beat Dr. Fink.

Though (for me) Lisa a VERY close 2nd.

LaVisHh said:

I second your opinion. Fink edges lisa out barely.
both of them were amazing,and very different.

chick corea on my spanish heart