http://www.rollingstone.c...?nid=18548

DVD release party features hour-long instrumental set

Prince celebrated the release of his new DVD, Prince Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas, with a secret show at B.B. King's in Universal City, California, last night.
Joined in the 600-capacity club by a trim ensemble featuring bassist Rhonda Smith, drummer John Blackwell, keyboardist Renato Neto and saxaphonist Eric Leeds, Prince played his latest album, N.E.W.S., in its entirety, as well as with the song "Shhh."

Composed of four fourteen-minute jazz instrumentals -- "North," "East," "West," and "South," -- Prince's latest work reveals him to be warming to the role of bandleader in the traditional sense.

Last night, clad in a purple suit with a black shirt and tie, he approached his hour-long performance like splatter painting -- a little piano here, a little guitar there -- and occasionally stepped to the side of the stage mid-song to sip some bottled water and listen to his band play. Once he left the stage mid-jam and went upstairs into the V.I.P. area, took a seat near the balcony, talked with friends, sometimes casually peering down to see what the band was up to.

At no time did Prince sing or speak to the crowd, confining his communication to hand signals -- a finger to the lips during the saxophone solo in "Shh!", a nod of his guitar to the B.B. King logo above the stage during a guitar solo.

Toward the end of the show, an increasingly frustrated audience began to chant "Sing!"

But Prince didn't. When it was over, he flashed a peace sign to the crowd and disappeared.

Prince Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas Track List:

Intro/Soundcheck
Pop Life
Money Don't Matter 2 Night/The Work
Push and Pull
1+1+1=3
Strollin'/U Want Me
Gotta Broken Heart Again
Strange Relationship
Pass the Peas
Whole Lotta Love
Family Name
Take Me With U
The Everlasting Now
Sometimes It Snows in April/The Ride

COLIN DEVENISH

well that's good coverage.

milty said:

Rolling Stone is cool...

WOW!

how awesome for those of you in L.A.!!!

Cool...

Why won't he sing...

I guess the NEWS album ain't so bad... It grows on ya... If you're are in a certain frame of mind...

loveuniverse said:

Prince looks a little tired...

the suit... That's a cool suit...

Prince looks Professional and he looks Engrossed and serious as any MUSICIAN should. Surely Dap and you know he is like so far removed from mr.Blackwell's worst dressed list. He has never looked better. Listen you cats in LA are so Lucky to see him Jam and yes, I am Jealous of you Lucky Stiffs. Watching Prince play is just all I Adore. His music is King. He looks great in those pictures and well you can diss all you want but Prince will always be the only Musician I would stay Virginal for. Man is he the most talented,Gorgeous Man there is. What a Dreamboat.

The aftershow was great! No singing, no groaning, but there is Prince... his awesome band... & his funky music (instrumental grooves). It's deep and it's different... and that's why I am a fan. I heard from one of the fan who was there in L.A. @ B.B. King's that, "That (show) was one of the worst performance I have ever seen from Prince." I think not! He's a singer, and he probably had the hardest time resisting in using the mic (there was a mic on the side, by the keyboard). That was a challenge in itself for him not to sing, but that's what his project is all about right now. He is growing and maturing as a musician/instrumental performer/jazz artist. Not to sing at all was probably not an easy task at all. I admire him for that. He's truly an artist.(NPZ)

He still looks like a complete Porno!

Muffy said:

And nominees for best actress are... lol...

lol...

july said:

Yeah? It's still cool... though...

Why he won't sing? He's jazzed up. i love it.

dawn74 said:

Then what the microphone for? ... lol...

Jazz is cool... but words are better...

Pick up a guitar and wear a purple sweater...

Rock and roll is cool and even better with both words and music put together...

Pick up a guitar and wear a purple sweater... lol...

I can't believe people were yelling for him to sing after half the set. It was a instrumental jazz show. It was close to perfect.

I would love to see Prince play EAST and the rest of NEWS.

cracknbush said:

Because they like him like that...

july said:

Jazz if funky in any weather kick up the jazz and wear a purple sweater... Jam of the NEWS make umm think ya clever... pick up the jazz and take off the purple sweater... and put on a beige coat with a black turtleneck...

lol...

What is up with his hair. He does have a little bit of a poof/afro goin on don't ya think? He also looks a little like he's showing his age.

From what I've heard, the Las Vegas dvd is quite poor - I'll see 4 myself soon though

As 4 this impromptu performance - I think it's kinda shity that he couldn't even sing one song at least

Ok he wants to plug NEWS - but this ain't the way!
U can't plug a poor cd, plain and simple!!

Prince - always looking out for his fans
lol

Anyway - I thought this was meant to celebrate the ONA dvd?!
So play some ONA tracks?
Duh...

If you think he looks tired and all maybe it's Mani and too much Sex. If she is 24 and all maybe she is doing him Alot.

Muffy said:

Maybe that's what it is... lol... lol... That can happen from time to time.
When passion strikes... Ya know... Ya never get no sleep...

july said:

Or he could just be chillin...

that's supposed to mean red eyes... Not... ya know...