Only other person that comes close to on keys is Stevie Wonder. That's it!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

NorthC said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

There is NOONE on earth better on the keys. Only other person that comes close to on keys is Stevie Wonder. That's it!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

NorthC said:

And if we remember that these days, he supposedly owns $ 250,000,000 and he plays solo with no theatrics and no band to pay... Not using a grand piano seems like taking the easy (read: cheap) way out...

You can't tour with a grand piano - it isn't just about costs. Transporting messes with the tuning, and to tune a piano it would need time to settle and then be tuned, and then have tuner come back at a later date to touch up the tuning. Hence musicians either travel with a keyboard (often in a piano shell) or use a piano provided by the venue.

NorthC said:

databank said:

I emember Fink revealing it wasn't a real piano on the Lovesexy Tour because it was much easier to transport a key than a real piano (and a piano gets fucked up during transportation as well). It's a matter of conveniency.

The Lovesexy tour was the most spectacular expensive tour that he ever did! The stage set, the lightning...transporting a grand piano would have been the least of his worries!

Only it gets shaken in the transportation and u need someone to tune it over and over again. It's worth your while if u're Keith Jarrett I guess but not if there's a thousand other things to do to set the stage and u're gonna play the piano 10 minutes on a 2 hours gig. Now IDK, that's what Fink revealed, IDK why in the world Fink would make up such a story when no one ever suspected it wasn't a real piano. U can mail him and ask him...

RJOrion said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Only other person that comes close to on keys is Stevie Wonder. That's it!

Keith Jarrett Larry Dunn Bernie Worrell

If u're talking PIANO you can add Diana Krall and whole bunch of jazz piano players who can technically smoke Prince any day. I'm not talking classical players because they often can't improvise (it's not part of their training).

Ryuichi Sakamoto or Akiko Yano could probably give Prince a ride for his money as well.

Now if u're talking KEYBOARDS, as in electronic and funky, competition get much smaller because Prince is among the greatest. However some of his own keyboards players could probably compete easily (Morris Hayes immediately comes to mind)

But there's more to playing an instrument than technical skills anyway.

starguitar said:

NorthC said:

starguitar said:

You can't tour with a grand piano - it isn't just about costs. Transporting messes with the tuning, and to tune a piano it would need time to settle and then be tuned, and then have tuner come back at a later date to touch up the tuning. Hence musicians either travel with a keyboard (often in a piano shell) or use a piano provided by the venue.

Yeah, I was thinking that too, after posting. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions a little too quickly. . But I'm sure the Sydney Opera House (or the Amsterdam Concergebouw) would have a piano for Prince to use. I still think that would be even better!

Honestly in the context of superamplified shows with a quite lame sound quality, it'd be ridiculous to bother. + anyway it's not like with modern gear any of us can hear the difference between a top-notch keyboard and a real piano.

Onthe1jb said:

I have nothing to base this on from the tour, Apart from a brief 30 sec clip on instagram.

But the fact he just plays alone on the stage? indicates he has always been practising over the years or is just naturally gifted and just spent last year or so really practising for this.

What styles has he played on the piano on the tour and does he make many mistakes? He is on a tight rope playing alone but must be pulling it off like he was Elton John.

I'd guess he's naturally gifted and has been practising for this concert but used the piano to find melodies over the years. I think the real question is not 'how good is he on the piano' but how good is Prince alone on the stage with just a piano and a mike? I've listened a couple of times to the 17/2 (2) show and I've never heard a better Prince. I'm a fan who plays for fun as one of many hobbies, so please ignore my lay jargon when it comes to the technicalities in describing the piano playing styles. But this is my take on how he walked that tight rope. More like catching a wave.

-

Mistakes? I heard none. After the intro, Big City and Joy in Repetition he cascades into "When the lights go down". Really subtle gentle chords to match the slinky soft vocals and a only a few individual notes guide him through vocally; this he harmonises beautifully into Little Red Corvette literally spicing and bouncing it back into Dirty Mind. However, it's the least likely introduction to Dirty Mind you'd expect, almost a brand new song until he 'lays you down' by playfully strumming up and down the keys back into Little Red Corvette. Only in the chorus does he play LRC fully, then stopping completely to return to Dirty mind. A piano DJ. Heavy breathing replaces piano before he starts a rhythmic piece for the 'lay you down'. It's almost as if the singing and the low piano key are different to the song but it all harmonizes perfectly.

-

DM is blended into the melody of Wanna be your lover with the falsetto and piano bass dominating but also sometimes completely without piano. It sound awfully funky especially when he goes all thundery in the bass with some great improvisation and drumming rhythm baseline that gets the crowd literally screaming. He keeps it funky with Free Yourself. Really nice bass low key playing and harmonising chords. He ends with a big bad dirty bass finale. Change of speed and mood with minimalistic piano and 'Satisfied'. Prince makes love to the microphone and the piano in the background is almost irrelevant. Perfect voice dominate but his fingers tickle the keys, dominating them from time to time. But this part is really about voice intonation which is stark and strikingly clear. He ends using some funky Supertramp like piano riffs. Like chocolate sauce over a delicious bowl of creamy ice-cream.

-

Straight into Diamond and Pearls with a tinkle of all the keys from right to left end. Key changes and rhythm and voice begin The Beautiful ones. There is very little piano but it is so authentic, almost pure 1982 deja vu. Honestly the piano and voice become one and time stands still. The crowd roars at the end explain this better than my words. Something tells me Prince loves this song as much as we do.

-

Fortunately, the listener is placed gently back on earth with Cream. This he funks up with not only the song melody but great improvisation when it's 'look up in the air it's your piano.".he rhythm brings back the clapping and singing after the startling crowd silence during TBO's. Cream harmonises into Mr Man. Just a few rhythmic low chords which is barely a backing but he sings it so well, all the rhythm in his voice and the piano just accentuates the lyrics. Then some rhythmic piano rolls with a few abrupt stops which he picks up to gently fade with multiple key changes into …

-

I love you but... complete minimalism but enough to touch each word lovingly. Voice is incredible and the piano sounds like raindrops. Did I say the voice was incredible…..? Piano barely needed. House lights on and we're back to a cheerful summer day with Raspberry Beret, fans interacting in sing-a-long with Prince, responding to where his fingers take them. He keeps it just to a few low chords to keep the right key for them to sing, as with Starfish and coffee. He pumps the bass to take it into Paisley Park and here it's playful honky tonky piano strumming with cool improvisation. Without a word but only the piano he orchestrates the crowd using a complete break and deep bass notes to guide them into groovy Kiss rhythm claps. He finishes by playing around at the high top end, increasing volume and changing keys but using the same rhythm and melody.

-

Black Sweat: If you never liked this previously, this version is completely different. He ends it on a robotic deep bass boom boom boom for a couple of notes to shift the rhythm before diving back into honky tonk improvisation. The crowd are screaming again.... it's that good.Sometimes it snows in April: minimalistic and perfect. He changes the melody slightly in vocals... which only add to its greatness. Piano fits like hand to glove.

-

Purple Rain. Words would never do it justice. It takes you to the ocean floor and back to the surface in one breath. I've never heard such a deep vocal version. Piano has some melodic differences in between the melody we know so well also changing keys. I don't know but it's as if he's sewn another song into enrich it charming my memory into believing I was listening to PR for the first time . It's because of the piano interludes and improvisation in tune and some lyrics. Pure goosebumps. The audience were so devastated they almost couldn't clap at the end... It almost feels wrong to do so. Prince has such an on stage moment of just being it's incredible.

-

These concerts create a direct link between prince and his fans creating a pure journey of mood and history they share. He is in control of every moment and they respond. A piano and a microphone is all he needs. Add to that he's written every song's lyrics and music (99%?) and it's mind-blowing. We are truly blessed by life to live in his lifetime.

-

Purple Music Oh Yeah 'Don't need no reefer, don't need cocaine, purple music does the same to my brain and I'm high!!' Cool to hear it on the piano but the outtake is better But Nothing compares to Prince that's for sure!

[Edited 2/27/16 23:41pm]

[Edited 3/7/16 23:23pm]

Bohemian67 said:

Onthe1jb said:

I have nothing to base this on from the tour, Apart from a brief 30 sec clip on instagram.

But the fact he just plays alone on the stage? indicates he has always been practising over the years or is just naturally gifted and just spent last year or so really practising for this.

What styles has he played on the piano on the tour and does he make many mistakes? He is on a tight rope playing alone but must be pulling it off like he was Elton John.

I'd guess he's naturally gifted and has been practising for this concert but used the piano to find melodies over the years. I think the real question is not 'how good is he on the piano' but how good is Prince alone on the stage with just a piano and a mike? I've listened a couple of times to the 17/2 (2) show and I've never heard a better Prince. I'm a fan who plays for fun as one of many hobbies, so please ignore my lay jargon when it comes to the technicalities in describing the piano playing styles. But this is my take on how he walked that tight rope. More like catching a wave.

Mistakes? I heard none. After the intro, Big City and Joy in Repetition he cascades into "When the lights go down". Really subtle gentle chords to match the slinky soft vocals and a only a few individual notes guide him through vocally; this he harmonises beautifully into Little Red Corvette literally spicingand bouncing it back into Dirty Mind. However, it's the least likely introduction to Dirty Mind you'd expect, almost a brand new song until he 'lays you down' by playfully strumming up and down the keys back into Little Red Corvette. Only in the chorus does he play LRC fully, then stopping completely to return to Dirty mind. A piano DJ. Heavy breathing replaces piano before he starts a rhythmic piece for the 'lay you down'. It's almost as if the singing and the low piano key are diffferent to the song but it all harmonizes perfectly.

DM is blended into the melody of Wanna be your lover with the falsetto and piano bass dominating but also sometimes completely without piano. It sound awfully funky especially when he goes all thundery in the bass with some great improvisation and drumming rhythm baseline that gets the crowd literally screaming. He keeps it funky with Free Yourself. Really nice bass low key playing and harmonising chords. He ends with a big bad dirty bass finale. Change of speed and mood with mininalistic piano and 'Satisfied'. Prince makes love to the microphone and the piano in the background is almost irrelevant. Perfect voice dominate but his fingers tickle the keys, dominating them from time to time. But this part is really about voice intonation which is starkingly clear. He ends using some funky Supertramp like piano riffs. Like chocolate sauce over a delicious bowl of creamy ice-cream.

Straight into Diamond and Pearls with a tinkle of all the keys from right to left end. Key changes and rhythm and voice begin The Beautiful ones. There is very little piano but it is so authentic, almost pure 1982 deja vu. Honestly the piano and voice become one and time stands still. The crowd roars at the end explain this better than my words. Something tells me Prince loves this song as much as we do.

Fortunately, the listener is placed gently back on earth with Cream. This he funks up with not only the song melody but great improvisation when it's 'look up in the air it's your piano" The rhythm brings back the clapping and singing after the startling crowd silence during TBO's. Cream harmonises into Mr Man. Just a few rhythmic low chords which is barely a backing but he sings it so well, all the rhythm in his voice and the piano just accentuates the lyrics. Then some rhythmic piano rolls with a few abrupt stops which he picks up to gently fade with multiple key changes into …

I love you but... complete minimalism but enough to touch each word lovingly. Voice is incredible and the piano sounds like raindrops. Did I say the voice was incredible…..? Piano barely needed. House lights on and we're back to a cheerful summer day with Rasberry Beret, fans interacting in sing-a-long with Prince, responding to where his fingers take them. He keeps it just to a few low chords to keep the right key for them to sing, as with Starfish and coffee. He pumps the bass to take it into Paisley Park and here it's playful honky tonky piano strumming with cool improvisation. Without a word but only the piano he orchestrates the crowd using a complete break and deep bass notes to guide them into groovy Kiss rhythm claps. He finishes by playing around at the high top end, increasing volume and changing keys but using the same rhythm and melody.

Black Sweat: If you never liked this previously, this version is completely different. He ends it on a robotic deep bass boom boom boom for a couple of notes to shift the rhythm before diving back into honky tonk improvisation. The crowd are screaming again.... it's that good.Sometimes it snows in April: minimalistic and perfect. He changes the melody slightly in vocals... which only add to its greatness. Piano fits like hand to glove.

Purple Rain. Words would never do it justice. It takes you to the ocean floor and back to the surface in one breath. I've never heard such a deep vocal version. Piano has some melodic differences in between the melody we know so well also changing keys. I don't know but it's as if he's sewn another song into enrich it charming my memory into believing I was listening to PR for the first time . It's because of the piano interludes and improvisation in tune and some lyrics. Pure goosebumps. The audience were so devastated they almost couldn't clap at the end... It almost feels wrong to do so. Prince has such an on stage moment of just being it's incredible.

These concerts create a direct link between prince and his fans creating a pure journey of mood and history they share. He is in control of every moment and they respond. A piano and a microphone is all he needs. Add to that he's written every song's lyrics and music (99%?) and it's mind-blowing. We are truly blessed by life to live in his lifetime.

Purple Music Oh Yeah 'Don't need no reefer, don't need cocaine, purple music does the same to my brain and I'm high!!' Cool to hear it on the piano but the outtake is better But Nothing compares to Prince that's for sure!

[Edited 2/26/16 12:09pm] not sure why my post won't take paragraphs

[Edited 2/26/16 12:09pm]

Wow that was a great night, a wonderful purple one.

databank said:

NorthC said:

starguitar said:

You can't tour with a grand piano - it isn't just about costs. Transporting messes with the tuning, and to tune a piano it would need time to settle and then be tuned, and then have tuner come back at a later date to touch up the tuning. Hence musicians either travel with a keyboard (often in a piano shell) or use a piano provided by the venue.

Yeah, I was thinking that too, after posting. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions a little too quickly. . But I'm sure the Sydney Opera House (or the Amsterdam Concergebouw) would have a piano for Prince to use. I still think that would be even better!

The Concertgebouw have already tweeted Prince

https://twitter.com/Concertgebouw/status/700273458693980160

He was already good, but seems to be getting even better as the tour progress. Listening to the Oakland show now and it pretty impressive.

laurarichardson said:

databank said:

If u're talking PIANO you can add Diana Krall and whole bunch of jazz piano players who can technically smoke Prince any day. I'm not talking classical players because they often can't improvise (it's not part of their training).

Ryuichi Sakamoto or Akiko Yano could probably give Prince a ride for his money as well.

Now if u're talking KEYBOARDS, as in electronic and funky, competition get much smaller because Prince is among the greatest. However some of his own keyboards players could probably compete easily (Morris Hayes immediately comes to mind)

But there's more to playing an instrument than technical skills anyway.

Why would you and others not realize that most people especially on this board are not well verse about jazz or classical. Prince has got to be in the top ten when it comes to the style of music he is playing. People are shelling out big money for this show so someone likes his playing and saying he is good is not saying every other piano player sucks. P is good at his instruments get the fuck over it already.

these comments follow up to one the says no one competes with P and stevie...that simply isnt true. Thats all theyre saying. theyre not bebating weathere prince is good or not...theyre disputing a statement that he's the best ever, besides maybe stevie. which is a preposterous statement.