PRINCE

[7/4]

June 16, 2006

Arts Extra | Maceo Parker and Prince

Prince a Surprise Guest at Celebrate Brooklyn

By NATE CHINEN, NYT

The new season of Celebrate Brooklyn kicked into high gear last night at the Prospect Park Bandshell, with crackling backbeats, a tight horn section and an unannounced special guest: Prince.

The featured artist was Maceo Parker, an alto saxophonist best known for his long association with James Brown. Prince’s cameo came as a surprise even to Mr. Parker, according to representatives of Brooklyn Information & Culture, the nonprofit organization that sponsors the series.

Mr. Parker fronted his nine-piece band in an energetic, funk-soul set that lasted roughly an hour and a half. At 9:52 p.m., after what appeared to be the end of the show, several members of Prince’s touring band walked out from the wings. Then came the artist himself, sharply attired in a white suit, a black shirt and sunglasses, and clutching a hollow-bodied Ibanez guitar.

He played just one number: “Get on the Boat,” the closing track from his latest album, “3121” (Universal). But the song’s James Brown groove suited the occasion, and gave Mr. Parker the chance to recreate his horn arrangement from the album. Prince sang some upbeat lyrics extolling racial harmony, and took a fleeting solo on guitar. Then he struck a dramatic pose, tossed his guitar pick and a white towel into the audience, and strutted off. He had been onstage for exactly seven minutes.

However brief, the appearance galvanized the crowd, and made for a splashy close to the concert. “To have somebody like Prince show up just makes it all the more special for everyone involved,” said Jack Walsh, Celebrate Brooklyn’s producer and director.

Mr. Walsh was responsible for the guest apearance. “I sent an email to a friend in the concert business,” he said, “and it got forwarded to the right person. It was on a whim, but the response was immediate. Somehow it just worked out.”

Prince happened to be in town for a “Good Morning America” taping that took place this morning in Bryant Park. Though his Prospect Park appearance was a secret, word had begun to spread in the audience by the time he took the stage.

[Big Wheel]

Listening now to Sign O' The Times for the first time, on Spotify.

Is it just me, or does anyone else hear echoes of Zappa on this record? The sax solos remind me quite a bit of Brecker's on Zappa in New York (I know, I know, it could just be that everyone was obsessed with Brecker during this period). And there are chunks here and there of advanced mallet playing that make me think of the 70s band with Ruth Underwood.

[jazzbo]

I've returned to Prince admiration and collection after a few decades absence. A fun time for me.

I don't really think Zappa was a specific influence on the builidng of Sign O' the Times, but perhaps, I don't have any specific knowledge. I think rather that Prince was just building UP to the arranging and production of that release. I am an atypical Prince fan (or at least as far as I can tell online) that likes most Prince AFTER this period, the NPG, and beyond.