My only complaint with the ONA/current line-up of horn players... not as cohesive as days gone by. Maybe this is due to the rotating cast of saxophonists (wasn't Greg Boyer the only wind player who made the whole tour?) -- the only motherfucker who didn't get called was Eddie M.! The best horn sections have been Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss and the original Hornheadz line-up from the D&P and Act I/II tours.

Leeds and Blistan played as one instrument and the charts were fantastic. Plus Eric is a brilliant soloist -- not really a funk player, per se, but a highly accomplished jazz musician, perhaps the only legitimate jazz musician he's ever hired. Granted, Blistan was never a great or even good soloist (he actually was never a full-time professional musician; Leeds was his friend), but they played beautifully together in the 80s. Eric Leeds is one of the handful of Prince musicians who never had to suffer the indignity of having his surname reduced to an initial or given some kooky stage name ("Tommy Barbarella"? "Atlanta Bliss"? "Brownmark"?) or never getting introduced to the audience -- that's probably a measure of how much Prince respects him.

Then the Hornheadz/NPG Horns. Amazing section playing, amazing charts, great soloists in every chair. The playing on the Hornheadz record is ridiculous. Brian Gallagher is also an awesome soloist -- in a different style than Eric -- and perfectly complemented what Prince was doing. The sound did get a little thick, though, between two keyboardists, two guitarists, and five horn players, which is probably why Prince stripped the band down in '94. But man, were they bad.

Just my two cents.

Pretty much agreed, though I always felt the Hornheadz were just too much at times. Five horn players just seemed too "brassy", especially on the Act I/II tours. The only horns that ever sounded right were Eric and Atlanta, and Eric isn't even on the tour right now. Maceo's a legend and all, but he doesn't do anything for Prince's sound, IMHO!!

alexnvrmnd said:

I'll second that about Maceo. Maceo is, well, Maceo -- no disrespect. But unless the tune is "Pass the Peas," I'd rather hear Eric or Brian Gallagher blowing on it.

You all need to go back to school

Maceo's the BOMB!

TedW said:

Lol! That cracks my shit up!! I almost don't think Maceo fits in with this new band. I would kinda like to see him replaced with a trumpet player. Although on the other hand, Eric Leeds can't really funk the way Maceo can. But i'd still like to see a good trumpet player in the band!

Maceo's got his "Licking Stick" and nothing can beat that!

MrTation said:

Sheeeyyyit, I already have 4 Masters degrees in this school, bruh!! I'm not dissing the man. Like I said, he IS a legend and everything, but he's JB's man, and his sound doesn't add anything to Prince's catalog. Maybe it's the fact that he plays alto, which leaves his music sounding a tad bit "empty" in some places where the tenor should be.

Eric Leeds may not be a 'funk' player, but damn, he CAN get funky. listen to the solos on THE WORK and 1+1+1=3.

in Antwerpen something amazing happened at the soundcheck. the stadium was really big and empty except for us members. Eric was introduced and then he started playing. the sound of the saxaphone echo-ed in the big room, and i swear, Leeds started playing with that echo. it was really impressive.

the Hornheadz, ah, you can wake me up for the BILLY JACK BITCH, HAIR and LOVE 4 1 ANOTHER solos.

Don't sleep on Eric Leeds. His horn is just as funky as funk can get. Have you people forgot the Parade, SOTT and Lovesexy tours already? Some of the funkiest horns I've ever heard. Atlanta Bliss is hot too.