This is mainly for the people who responded to the first thread. I felt compelled to run the thread again for personal reasons. In 1994, I had the distinct pleasure to play lead guitar on a session for Morris Day at Andre Cymone's studio in his loft in downtown Los Angeles. The session was for an album Morris was working on. I was seeing a girl who said she knew certain people from Minneasota. Anyway, long story short, I gave her phone number to a guy who had played keyboards in my band ever since we were in high school in the late 80's. She hooked him up with Morris, and he began working with Morris on this album. Some time passed and Morris asked him if he knew of a lead guitarist who could blaze for this song "Skirt". Jesse promised Morris that he would come down, but never showed. He said that he did know of someone and called me. During the session, Andre who was recording the session, commented that my playing reminded him of Eddie Hazel of Funkadelic, Ernie Isley and Prince. This led into the topic of who was better, Prince or Jessie. Andre prefered Prince while Morris favored Jessie. Morris later asked me if I would be interested in playing guitar with the "revamped Time" which would be going on tour. I already had a string of dates booked in Las Vegas for my band to perform, so I couldn't. My thought on Prince and Jessie is what it's always been. Prince as a rhythmn guitarist is and always has been better than Jessie. Prince's funk timing and "in the pocket" playing is unbeatable. As a lead guitarist, although Prince is more versatile, his guitar solo's and yes I'm including Bambi 2000 and everything else since the year 2000, isn't that diffucult for me to play. But that has a lot to do with Hendrix and Santana being my first two major guitar influences, so I know where Prince's leads are coming from. Prince's solo's are more dramatic and flashier than Jessie's. Prince is a showman and that's evident in his playing. Which is what I love about Prince's leads. But with Jessie, you have to have more "feel" to play his solo's. It's far easier to play scales: dorian, exotic, etc. That can be taught. To play with feel, well, that can't be taught.

I would have to disagree with you, for the simple reason that Prince is still playing... what is Jesse doing?

Now, I am not dissing Jesse at all. One listen to "The Skillet" can tell you the boy has chops, no doubt. But if he had a way of putting his soul into his guitar playing, he would still be doing it.

If you think Prince's guitar solos are easy, i.e. "My Guitar Gently Weeps" from RRHOF, then when is your CD coming out? Now, don't misread that, I am not dissing you, but when someone is that phenomally good... you hear about them, that's all.

Wow.

Relevance = visibility?

Wow.


I still say Jesse's better.

It'll be out Lovesexy, God willing. The world is full of talented people you have yet heard of. Doesn't mean their not talented. But when you hear it, you'll think of this.

not bambi from 2000 celebration,i am talking about bambi from 2002 celebration,listen to that amazing version.
prince is better guitar player then jesse,jesse is good but prince's lead guitar is much wider then jesse's blues licks oriented solos.
also i heard a boot of one nite alone in la.
incredable playing by prince,he was rearly inspired that night.
also prince's guitar solo at the end of west s better then any jesse johnsons guitar solo.

blackguitaristz said:

I look forward to it.

I think the bottom line is personal taste. I can listen to Carlos, Stevie Ray, Jimi, Eddie, etc. and think, wow... they're extremely talented.

But there is something incredibly different and almost indescribable when Prince plays. All I know is I am filled with awe, and goose bumps shoot through my body and up my spine. I personally have never heard another guitarist aside from Prince, that can do that when I hear them.

I'm sure you guys feel the same way when you hear Jesse or your true guitar hero play.

blackguitaristz said:

Finally ANOTHER musician with some sense...you hit it right on the head bro!