Apr 11, 2023 10:47 AM
Brad Mehldau Tells His Story
At the tail end of 2022, Brad Mehldau took advantage of a New York sojourn to play piano with old friends at Smalls…
Prince (1958–2016)
(Photo: Courtesy Warner. Bros.)Prince, a singer-songwriter who mixed r&b, funk, rock and jazz elements into a style all his own, has died at the age of 57. His publicist confirmed the news to the Associated Press, which sent out an announcement via Twitter. He passed away on April 21 at his Paisley Park home and studio in suburban Minneapolis.
Born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, he spent his entire career based in the Minneapolis area.
His debut album was the 1978 Warner Bros. release For You.
Prince reached the peak of his popularity with the 1984 film Purple Rain and the soundtrack of the same name. The album won a Grammy in the category Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. The soundtrack score also earned Prince an Oscar.
A very prolific artist, Prince released albums frequently over the past 20 years, including 39 studio discs.
Famous for being a studio wizard who could play multiple instruments, Prince explored the artistic freedom that came along with being able to record whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, in his extensive Paisley Park studio.
During past two years, his albums included Art Official Age, HitnRun Phase One and HitnRun Phase Two.
Neil Portnow, the president and CEO of The Recording Academy, issued the following statement: “Our GRAMMY family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of seven-time GRAMMY Award winner Prince. Today, we remember and celebrate him as one of the most uniquely gifted artists of all time. Never one to conform, he redefined and forever changed our musical landscape. Prince was an original who influenced so many, and his legacy will live on forever. We have lost a true innovator and our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends, collaborators and all who have been impacted by his incredible work.”
Prince was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. To visit his biography page at the museum’s website, click here.
“Perhaps that’s a key to what makes me tick — a very strong curiosity, which makes me a perpetual fanboy of whatever I’m discovering,” Mehldau says.
Apr 11, 2023 10:47 AM
At the tail end of 2022, Brad Mehldau took advantage of a New York sojourn to play piano with old friends at Smalls…
Ahmad Jamal (1930–2023) with his trio at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago.
Apr 18, 2023 9:44 AM
Pianist-composer Ahmad Jamal passed away April 16 in his home in Ashley Falls, Massachusetts, after battling prostate…
“Remember to be a warrior, not a worrier,” Shorter said, 10 days prior to his passing on March 2.
May 9, 2023 12:02 PM
Sadly, the formative giants of jazz are passing the torch and joining the ancestors. But such cliché and dwelling on…
“The more I thought about that connection, the more it made sense,”James said of comparing Erika Badu and Alice Coltrane from a musical and spiritual standpoint.
Mar 28, 2023 12:49 PM
It’s early December and José James is in the Yuletide spirit. He’s on stage in front of packed audience at Dakota,…
“When I first emerged on the scene, I was dealing with working with a certain trumpet player who shall remain nameless,” Reed said. “It was very much an indoctrinating, dogmatic point of view, but it was all I knew.”
May 16, 2023 3:15 PM
As a piano-playing prodigy, Philadelphia native Eric Reed performed gospel music in his father’s church at age 5. By…
