this d'angelo live mix is now available as a download from the post:

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/mixtape-mondays-sam-champ-x-okayplayer-dangelo-live-mixtape.html

i saw one of the voodoo tour shows in person and was blown away. he was on some super energy james brown shit, as evidenced by the first half of this mix.

i've only seen a few of the clips from his new shows. definitely solid, but i wonder how they compare with these performances?

his version of one mo gin here is crazy. i always liked the album version but this one is hypnotizing. and the one on the mix is actually quite a bit shorter than the original clip.

but it might just be the venues.

....j/k

jking.

The circumstances surrounding them are totally different. The Voodoo tour was after an album release so everyone in the crowd already knew all the music. With this tour the crowd is hearing a good chunk of the set for the first time. That in and of itself will completely change the energy of the show.

Also, throughout the Voodoo tour some of the arrangements evolved - you can hear this when you listen to the same song in different venues. By the end of that tour the arrangements were pretty complex in what the band was doing. On this tour, it's just a month long so the band isn't gonna have the time to develop their chemistry to that level. Plus because there are new songs that the crowd hasn't heard yet, you don't want the arrangements to be too complicated, or people won't get to know the music for what it is.

One thing I've noticed is that D seems to be showcasing his voice more in this tour, which makes sense. The main goal of this tour is probably to let people know that he's still got it, and him showing how strong his voice still is is probably the best way to do that.

>The circumstances surrounding them are totally different. The
>Voodoo tour was after an album release so everyone in the
>crowd already knew all the music. With this tour the crowd is
>hearing a good chunk of the set for the first time.

He's done, what? 3 new songs? Maybe 4? And not (I believe) all at the same shows?

The audience hasn't heard him do the 3 new tunes of him, plus the 3 new covers. In addition to that, he's doing new arrangements on SDM and Makin Love (old cover) and Brown Sugar. From a live performance perspective all of that music is gonna feel like brand new music to the artist/band performing it, because even if it's an old song if the arrangement is completely new then you don't know how the crowd will feel it. That changes the energy in the room. This shouldn't be an issue by the end of the tour, but I think it's valid for the first few shows.

The audience knows those songs... or they should, anyway. So there's not the "unfamiliarity" factor you're talking about...

If anything, those covers get the audience more hype than the original material.

If you are playing live and you haven't performed a specific cover before, especially if you're doing your own arrangement of it, there is a level of uncertainty as to how well it's go over which is pretty similar to performing an original for the first time live.

But put covers aside - just his own new material is currently around 1/3 of the set, and yeah, I would consider that to be a "good chunk".

charade - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfgxz_B76Tc
another life - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxVHAhUOwb8
suggar daddy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMy2iF7jD8o
ain't that easy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yY-BOwduPU

...wanted to wait to hear the official release....
but another life sounds nice....

were not good - to me so if James Brown was the mark..

no sir...

D'angelo is a wonderful crooner/piano player

I don't get that funk from him.

But I like this tour more actually.

There were moments with the Voodoo tour like One Mo Gin and Untitled but Voodoo struck me as an excercise in Prince fans living out their ultimate Prince/James Brown fantasies. Which to me just didn't kick. You gotta be able to dance and D cannot dance, Pino is not funky to me (reminds me more of a jazz bassist). Quest was always in the pocket tho and honestly I felt he defined the band.

This tour I appreciate more actually cause it's more about the music - despite the fact that this band is not as good as the Voodoo band and somewhat sloppy at times. Jefflee is a bad choice despite his history w OKP and honestly I wonder why Jj left - ? If it's not to make up w The Time and get it going again - it could be one or two things

A) rumor has it Jj put his beef aside and will be playing Guitar with Prince (in some fashion - whew)
B) this band just wasn't cutting it for Jessie.
C) or it could just be a family emergency

I agree with your view however which is why I thought Quest comparing this tour to Eddie Hazel or whomever was unfair to D'angelo and just not true. Why lie and put that man up to a standard he can't live up to? Isn't this how we got to the 12 year penalty break?

D'angelo is a basic guitar player - nothing special there.

But D'angelo doesn't need to be Prince - he's D'angelo and I like him just fine being that.
Just like Prince will never be D'angelo.

He's an amazing singer, his voice is the best I have ever heard it and when he sits down and plays piano - man, it's great.

Frank Zappa aint got a damn thing to worry about after that guitar solo. That was a Lil Wayne solo. Lol.

Although -

Donna Hathaway may have alot to worry about tho - D playing at the Piano was by far the highlight of this tour and should have been the tour.

Plus Another Life is just simply a gorgeous piece of work.

I'm not a D'angelo fan like most OKPs are but Another LIfe is by far my favorite song from him. Ever.

I like this tour - I feel like some moments are the first time we have witnessed the real D'angelo - like the piano set.

Not Chris Brown doing Mj
Not D'angelo doing Prince/James.

Just D, being an amazing singer that he is.

I think the Voodoo tour was a bit overrated but I blame the material...most of Voodoo was just grooves and not full songs. But you can't deny how tight that band was and their chemistry together.

And yeah, it sounds crazy but Another Life is already in my top couple songs from D. (Higher is probably #1.)

Charade and Sugardaddy are cool

although the second (?) performance of Sugardaddy was pretty hot.

Aint that Easy... just sounded messy to me and just didn't feel like a very well written song.

Another Life is D'angelo pushing D'angelo's talent in the right direction.

I don't wanna hear Prince or Funkadelic knock off's.

Another Life is a wonderful performance - I really hope the record is as good - I'm sure it will be.

and this one also... is the man holding down the bottom end.

Pino Palladino is a great bass player and seems like a lovely bloke, but I'm sorry: He is not funky at all. I felt he held the band back on Voodoo, and was one of the biggest obstacles to D making the kind of legit funk he seemed to aspire for.

When this new tour was announced, I was surprised that Pino was invited back. I mean, I'm sure there's a real personal--and even musical--bond there, but I think that as long as Pino is there, D is not gonna be truly funky.

(The little bit of the "Lady Cab Driver" stuff I heard didn't sound too bad, though... but that was more in the guitars)




*EDIT: let's make that ONE OF my problems... lol

in fact I'm surprised no one realized this.

To me the way people reacted to that tour wasn't because they were dope and the show was dope

it was because the option was Justin Timberlake spinning in circles and doing his worst Mj performance (another motherfucker who has no rhythm and cannot dance).

It's like black folks forgot themselves.

"and this one also... is the man holding down the bottom end.

Pino Palladino is a great bass player and seems like a lovely bloke, but I'm sorry: He is not funky at all. I felt he held the band back on Voodoo, and was one of the biggest obstacles to D making the kind of legit funk he seemed to aspire for."

Yep - exactly. His touch is like a jazz player but honestly I would even go as far as to say light-KennyG Jazz... maybe fusion cause there is some Jaco there but Pino is not funky. Steeley Dan record - sure - James Brown covers - NO.

"When this new tour was announced, I was surprised that Pino was invited back."

Wow you are in my head.

"I mean, I'm sure there's a real personal--and even musical--bond there, but I think that as long as Pino is there, D is not gonna be truly funky."

Yeah I'm with you. People seem to think yelling, skips, 4/4, and layers upon layers of backup vocals and James Brown-alike covers equates to funk or black music from the past. They forget something very important - those funk bands

Lived together
came up together
toured endlessly together

so their songs may have had simple arrangemens, but the chops were air tight - like knowing when the next person will breathe.

That's also the case with non-funk bands like Led Zep and the Beatles.

And... even the Revolution. Sure Gayle, Andre' left after the Dirty Mind tour but basically it was the same core of musicians. Beyond their musicianship - familiarity played a role in their sound.

D's attempt at funk has only fully been realized on record - to me.

"(The little bit of the "Lady Cab Driver" stuff I heard didn't sound too bad, though... but that was more in the guitars)"

I didn't hear that - but that's a great song. One of the things that makes Prince a great songwriter are his arrangements.

That's a perfect song to use too - here you have a simple groove, nothing crazy. Just air tight on the one.

I have heard horrible cover bands sound great with that one.

I just personally think D should just worry about being D.

When he does that he's just incredible.

Like I pointed out that Piano set. Honestly if that were the tour itself - could you imagine? Would be great. But D fans are happy he's back and even if that means work out the kinks publicly.

I think that it's hard to define what "funky" is for a bass player. There so many different styles that sound completely different but are still "funky". I'm a bass player myself, so I can appreciate many of the different takes on what "funky" is...

But man...you really don't think Pino's playing on Feels Like Making Love was funky? Wow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO6jaPu49cg&feature=related


I do understand what you mean though from a sense that D'Angelo's blueprint for funk seems to have been the James Brown/P Funk thing, and Pino doesn't sound ANYTHING like Bootsy. But I still think they are both funky.

Half the time I can't even tell what Pino is playing and honestly part of it is cause they keep trying to take studio songs and work them into something they are not... so something gets lost in the translation.

I'm completely down for songs being re-worked. Depending on the artist that can be exciting but Brown Sugar was not good.

Just wasn't.

However I'm not a D basher - that Piano set is the finest I have ever heard D'angelo even when I used to catch him playing here in New York years ago (right before Brown Sugar). he was always great at covers then and honestly he struck me as that type of musician.

>Half the time I can't even tell what Pino is playing

Pino plays a 60's P bass with old flatwounds and he rolls the tone knob way back and plays through a tube pre-amp. Because of all this, his tone is really dubby and there is little to no definition in the notes. It makes it really hard to tell what he's playing. I know what he's going for in his sound, and it really works in some vibes but not in others.

He played some gigs with Herbie Hancock doing all Headhunters tunes a few years back, and I don't think he worked well with that because of his tone - I couldn't tell what he was playing at all.

The interesting thing is I noticed in the clips from this tour he is playing a jazz bass on some tunes - I don't think I've seen Pino play a jazz before. I wonder if it's because he wants more definition in his notes on some of those tunes.

to accomodate a more soulful, fuller approach.

Yeah I could tell but his finger technique is that of a 60's player.

I would have thought he used a pick quite honestly cause of the lack of funk - but the dub sounding lines proves otherwise.

Yeah well said.

I think Pino makes great for a session bassist but...

I don't think that is one of them, though.

think about it

One Mo Gin
Untitled were not re-worked. They lived as is.

he sounded great there.

Yet when they revamp something?

sigh.

To be fair I didn't think the Voodoo re-worked arrangements were that dope. Same with this tour the re-works did not cut it for me.

Definitely think Pino obviously has a good name for a reason - just not seeing how that works from the D'angelo angle.

Pino not funky?????? In what sense - who is funky then???


If ?uesto, D, Steve Jordan, Chris Dave et al think he's funky that's good enough for me

for simply red or sade, not dangelo. hes good on things like send it on, much less good on something thats meant to sound like bootsy era JBs.

I'm tryin' to hear what you're hearing and it just ain't computing.

Playa Playa ain't funky?

Feel Like Makin' Love? (album or live version)

Dag.


http://twitter.com/collazo
http://www.reverbnation.com/livesociety

But nah, they don't "throw down," so to speak.

Pino's funk is polite where it should be nasty... reminds me of some of the lighter British jazz-funk of the late 1970s and early 80s. And there IS a place for that. But I don't know if that place agrees with D's supposed goals (as stated by ?uest).

I agree with GumDrops that his playing would better fit the likes of Sade... or Maxwell, even. But if D is really trying to recreate early Funkadelic and such like ?uest says he is... I don't know if I'm confident that Pino's playing is the vehicle to take him there.

Poppycock.

What the blood claaat ???

Any validity or shit talking??

saying P and the Revolution would reunite for a new album?

From what I'm hearing they... kinda.. had it right.

Prince and Jesse??
No way!!!

i mean this solo after "sexy things" is laughable in the context of eddie hazel or ernie isley

it's not that hard to improvize something more memorable in the pentatonic scale on that groove

and the tone is horrible too

it sounds a mess what he is playing there

the riffs on devil's pie, charade, etc. sound nice

It's hard to tell who's playing.

I don't even focus on it really cause his voice is great.

I don't wanna hear him try and be Joe Satriani and fuck it all up the wrong way. Just do you.

I also seem to suspect this is adding to the slightly muddy sound.

Either way that piano set he did - that was classic shit.

After hearing that I would rather hear just that.

I was verry disapointed by Jef Lee Johnson on sunday, maybe they didn't practice enough but damn, it wasn't a good look ...

spent way too much time on OKP.

he was playing at Paradiso yesterday

that footage from paradiso makes it absolutely clear even more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHEzhOO_fOk

he should just stick with the piano

But I'm really enjoying the new tunes. Hopefully we get a record out this year.

i got all these clips laying around, but it's never complete until someone compiles them. good work.

his voice sounds better than ever -- eventhough the audio/video was recorded primarily via cellphone, it just shows how dynamic his voice truly is. something has changed in it but, i can't describe exactly what has changed yet.

i hesitate to say that i'm not as impressed with his band/background vocals vs the voodoo era YET -- i'm patiently waiting for a crisp soundboard recording so, that i can give a more well-rounded critique.

i'm just glad the brother is back and making music again.

you got robert glasper, d'angelo, shafiq husayn releases coming out soon, bilal releasing incredible revamped stuff on the regular, maxwell playing the background right now....sheeeiit. 2012 is shaping up to be a GREAT year for music.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It is better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"

yeah it was on some James Brown...some Prince...Some Pfunk..

but what elese was it supposed be on???

there is a certain standard of greatness that people have set..and when you are reaching towards that greatness...what you do is gonna look familiar to that...

one of the things I always say is that that Largest Grossing Movie actor in the history of motion pictures made his career off of copying Richard Pryor and Jerry Lewis.... Does that mean that Eddie Murphy wasn't original?? No...but I mean when you are in a certain line of work, and you strive for greatness.....there is a certain familiarity in you manifesting greatness that was done before you..


I want to go to a concert that's on some Funk like Prince, James, Pfunk and Sly.... In fact that's really the only type of concert I'd want to go to.

There hasn't been a live show like Voodoo since Voodoo....and as much as I love the Classic Funksters...I'm not about to say they're the only ones who ever brought it and nobody is worth listening to after...

but for me - here's the problem.

Prince and James Brown for example where both undeniably hot. From all angles and perspectives for the most part. You and I agree - history agrees.

Here you have not just great tours - but great time periods.
Great development and working relationships.

Voodoo made a great starter tour which could have developed into a time period of it's own (w Quest at that, could you imagine?)- but was given this title of 'equals to' merely cause the music industry itself had really nothing else to offer.

No slight on the Soulatronics cause they still put on a dope show.

Had that developed to an immediate second, third, fourth, fifth tour like James Brown and Prince - then you can give it that.

That also doesn't mean it's as good as James Brown or Prince was.

But it doesn't have to be. This constant comparison to other artists is pointless.

It should just be about D'angelo - he's dope on his merit man.

I know a lot of people round here have the perception of me as a D'Angelo hater who has always been a D'Angelo hater, but the "hate" I have spit at him is more the disappointment and frustration of a (former) avid fan.

This is it right here:

>Voodoo made a great starter tour which could have developed
>into a time period of it's own (w Quest at that, could you
>imagine?)- but was given this title of 'equals to' merely
>cause the music industry itself had really nothing else to
>offer.
>
>No slight on the Soulatronics cause they still put on a dope
>show.
>
>Had that developed to an immediate second, third, fourth,
>fifth tour like James Brown and Prince - then you can give it
>that.

I had my criticisms of both the album and the tour but I still enjoyed both... but I viewed them as "starters" that served as a strong foundation to be developed upon.

But when D failed to develop... when he just dropped the torch and walked off... that was frustrating.

And now here we are, 11, 12 years later... trying to build it all back from scratch... it seems like a waste to me.

Like, I actually find myself agreeing with maxxx when he says that at least R. Kelly has used his musical time wisely where D squandered his.

>I know a lot of people round here have the perception of me
>as a D'Angelo hater who has always been a D'Angelo hater, but
>the "hate" I have spit at him is more the disappointment and
>frustration of a (former) avid fan.
>
>This is it right here:
>
>>Voodoo made a great starter tour which could have developed
>>into a time period of it's own (w Quest at that, could you
>>imagine?)- but was given this title of 'equals to' merely
>>cause the music industry itself had really nothing else to
>>offer.
>>
>>No slight on the Soulatronics cause they still put on a dope
>>show.
>>
>>Had that developed to an immediate second, third, fourth,
>>fifth tour like James Brown and Prince - then you can give
>it
>>that.
>
>I had my criticisms of both the album and the tour but I still
>enjoyed both... but I viewed them as "starters" that served as
>a strong foundation to be developed upon.
>
>But when D failed to develop... when he just dropped the torch
>and walked off... that was frustrating.
>
>And now here we are, 11, 12 years later... trying to build it
>all back from scratch... it seems like a waste to me.
>
>Like, I actually find myself agreeing with maxxx when he says
>that at least R. Kelly has used his musical time wisely where
>D squandered his.



Did you even go to the Voodoo Concert??? Because I know you've never been to a Prince concert..... You're saying D was copying shit you never even seen..

plus you have found many ways to diss the guy...songwriting, performances you ain't even seen..... and you were coming with that eager hate leading up to his return to the stage damn near wishing dude would flop..

so miss me with the I'm a D'Angelo fan shit...You don't like Funk music and the funkier a person gets..the more you're gonna dislike it...

and really that's all good....that's your taste..but don't front like you really dig the shit that you called Clown music my nigga...lol.

>Did you even go to the Voodoo Concert??? Because I know
>you've never been to a Prince concert..... You're saying D was
>copying shit you never even seen..

I'm sure you remember the day I scanned and posted my tickets (yes, PLURAL) to the Voodoo tour. You shut your mouth real quick then because I know that YOU didn't go.

>plus you have found many ways to diss the guy...songwriting,
>performances you ain't even seen..... and you were coming with
>that eager hate leading up to his return to the stage damn
>near wishing dude would flop..

uh... when did I wish he would flop? Or were YOU wishing that I wished it?

>so miss me with the I'm a D'Angelo fan shit...You don't like
>Funk music and the funkier a person gets..the more you're
>gonna dislike it...

You always repeat this and it's hilarious because you are seemingly oblivious to how absurd you sound. A quick scan of all my posts in the Lesson will reveal that somewhee around 98% of them are about some form of funk or soul music.

The fact that I don't agree with your simple-minded views doesn't mean that I don't like funk.

And sorry... I don't think a lot of D'Angelo's stuff is that funky. THAT'S my problem... if the shit were more legitimately funky, I'd be happy. But unfortunately... I just don't think it is. I think D is much better crooning melodic tunes like "Another Life." The funk stuff falls flat to me.

>and really that's all good....that's your taste..but don't
>front like you really dig the shit that you called Clown music
>my nigga...lol.

LOL you still taking my 10 year-old comments about P-Funk out of context. Very well... Thankfully I remember what I said, andI can take comfort in the fact that you're lying (as always).

>>Did you even go to the Voodoo Concert??? Because I know
>>you've never been to a Prince concert..... You're saying D
>was
>>copying shit you never even seen..
>
>I'm sure you remember the day I scanned and posted my tickets
>(yes, PLURAL) to the Voodoo tour. You shut your mouth real
>quick then because I know that YOU didn't go.

the fukk out of here..you are the champ of revisionist history..always talking about some shit you scanned and posted....Fool people din't have ready access to scan shit and post it on the internet back then....it was available but your ass sure didn't have it...


you called it Karaoke....

I saw the Voodoo Show at the Universal Ampatheater....Dead Prez opened for him..


plus fool I've been Bumping Live D'Angelo on regular rotation since the guy came out....

You see these Live D'Angelo Compilations over the years.... The one's with him covering Mothership connection and Give me your love during the Brown Sugar tour..... The source of those track on thos compilations is my audio taping the 92.3 the beat summer jam performance on the radio back then......so miss me...D'Angelo live has been in rotation with me on the regular....all the shows that have been out there...trust me I got.


>
>>plus you have found many ways to diss the guy...songwriting,
>>performances you ain't even seen..... and you were coming
>with
>>that eager hate leading up to his return to the stage damn
>>near wishing dude would flop..
>
>uh... when did I wish he would flop? Or were YOU wishing that
>I wished it?

honestly the bitchmade snark you would come with.... don't back track now player.

>
>>so miss me with the I'm a D'Angelo fan shit...You don't like
>>Funk music and the funkier a person gets..the more you're
>>gonna dislike it...
>
>You always repeat this and it's hilarious because you are
>seemingly oblivious to how absurd you sound. A quick scan of
>all my posts in the Lesson will reveal that somewhee around
>98% of them are about some form of funk or soul music.

Clown music....your words.

>
>The fact that I don't agree with your simple-minded views
>doesn't mean that I don't like funk.
>
>And sorry... I don't think a lot of D'Angelo's stuff is that
>funky. THAT'S my problem... if the shit were more legitimately
>funky, I'd be happy. But unfortunately... I just don't think
>it is. I think D is much better crooning melodic tunes like
>"Another Life." The funk stuff falls flat to me.



>>and really that's all good....that's your taste..but don't
>>front like you really dig the shit that you called Clown
>music
>>my nigga...lol.
>
>LOL you still taking my 10 year-old comments about P-Funk out
>of context. Very well... Thankfully I remember what I said,
>andI can take comfort in the fact that you're lying (as
>always).
>

Karaoke...Clown music..... the list goes on..

I'm just saying..and again I'm not dissing your musical taste..I'm really not...but you are not the type of Funk fan who listens to live stuff more than studio stuff...which is why your critique of those types of live performances I'm not buying because it's not your forte...again..not a diss..but you were not the guy fiending over live Prince bootlegs and bumping Pfunk's Rocky Moutain shakedown...or ripping the audio off of VHS concert videos... that;s just not your thing..and that's cool.....but for those of us who come from that school of Funk are looking for and appreciating things in the music that simply are not your preference... thus the dismissiveness when you talk about it.

>the fukk out of here..you are the champ of revisionist
>history..always talking about some shit you scanned and
>posted....Fool people din't have ready access to scan shit and
>post it on the internet back then....it was available but your
>ass sure didn't have it...

This was less than six months ago, asshole.

I can go and look for the post... I know it was still here like a month ago.


>you called it Karaoke....

OldPro called it karaoke.

I called it *virtual* karaoke. And yeah... I stand by it. I enjoyed it immensely, though... but karaoke is fun.


>>uh... when did I wish he would flop? Or were YOU wishing
>that
>>I wished it?
>
>honestly the bitchmade snark you would come with.... don't
>back track now player.

My dude... That is not an answer to the question.

Just tell me WHEN I wished he would flop. Link a post, or just cite one and I'll go find it myself. Or even paraphrase something I said that indicated that.

Go ahead, liar. Support your statements with facts. (For once)


>I'm just saying..and again I'm not dissing your musical
>taste..I'm really not...but you are not the type of Funk fan
>who listens to live stuff more than studio stuff...which is
>why your critique of those types of live performances I'm not
>buying because it's not your forte...again..not a diss..but
>you were not the guy fiending over live Prince bootlegs and
>bumping Pfunk's Rocky Moutain shakedown...or ripping the audio
>off of VHS concert videos...

LOL

As if anything of that were relevant... I mean, it's totally not relevant, but beyond that it's just bullshit.

I've had Rocky Mountain Shakedown on vinyl for more than 20 years. I've got a massive VHS collection (and some stuff on uMatic and Quad reel-to-reel tape) that would make the average Black music fiend drool (and just the other day I was thinking I should start digitizing them and sharing them on YouTube). I just moved this past weekend and broke my back carrying crate after crate of rare live cassettes going back 40 years.

And on top of that, I'd wager I've been to more shows than you. Easily.

None of that is really relevant, though... Because at the end of the day, I don't think D'Angelo's funk is very convincing. That is my opinion and I have even offered in this very post a well-informed musical opinion--something you have not done, relying instead on incessant ad hominem--why I think it is so (Pino isn't a funk bassist... he can be funky at times, but he's not a funk bassist).

You seem to have this notion that D'Angelo represents some sort of watermark and if you don't feel his shit then you don't feel or know funk.

Not so.

there was a particular moment in time when kind of the collective masses accepted the Prince had earned a seat at the table of Outstanding Live Performers as far as the Funksters are concerned..

the tours through the 1999 tour were all great and very distinctive....Prince brought it...lots of origniality...and really his formula for his live show as far as the sequence of the songs was pretty much set..

but really...folks give him his super dap when he did this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqaCj7sitBw

and this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyh_U32gbOo

Why??? because of his role as the BAND LEADER....Big band....playing on the one....horns...breakdowns...etc.

He didn't have that before the Purple rain tour really.....by then he was locke in..

But ask yourself...can you bite James Brown any harder than he is during those performances???

or this...

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgnc3t_prince-purple-rain-live-20-minutes-version_music

there is no way Prince would have brought it like that if he hadn't seen this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBNJ52YSKww

from the guitar solos to what Prince is wearing.....to the guitar itself...to the stage lighting...

When you reach to that level of greatness....you're gonna resemble the great ones that did it before you....

I think if D'Angelo had put out more material over the years...sure he would have had some things that would have distinguished him more....but I certainly think he's..even with the layoff remained above his peers....hell, nobody has even tried to put a funky concert tour on like that since Voodoo...muthafukkas is lip syncing and dat playing they asses off right now..lol. Doing Cirque De soleil shit on stage and shit.....lol.

I see your point..but to me there really have only been 2 live performers that at their best were totally original and that's James Brown and Jimi Hendrix....(I would say P-Funk but I think Pfunk was PURPOSELY a manifestation of various styles that proceeded them...done in a super unique and ground breaking way) Other then them everybody is rockin it like somebody else...Unique, yet conjuring spirits past...

I've never been mad at D'Angelo for that....because I'm gonna roll with the guy who is doing it the RIGHT way when er'body else around him is faking and fabricating shit....

may not be the fairest example.

Let's consider that this performance took place the year of Prince's first album release - it would only make sense to be influenced.

"from the guitar solos to what Prince is wearing.....to the guitar itself...to the stage lighting..."

Agreed - not to mention his JB influences, Sly... sure
but you see we are discussing a guitarist who arguably could give Eddie Hazel a run for his money so again. I mean but let's not lose even a proper comparison it wasn't funkadelic who influenced him it was Santana.

"When you reach to that level of greatness....you're gonna resemble the great ones that did it before you...."

Level of greatness is really subjective here.

"I think if D'Angelo had put out more material over the years...sure he would have had some things that would have distinguished him more....but I certainly think he's..even with the layoff remained above his peers....hell, nobody has even tried to put a funky concert tour on like that since Voodoo...muthafukkas is lip syncing and dat playing they asses off right now..lol. Doing Cirque De soleil shit on stage and shit.....lol. "

True there are many still getting away with getting a check off of horrible backing tracks, gospel musicians disguised as r&b bands, and choreographers lol but several things.

He hasn't released more material and that would have been great and who knows - he's alive and well so we shall It's really not true that others havent been bringing it - again the Voodoo album is subjective territory.

Eryka
Anthony Hamilton
Maxwell
Sade
Mechelle
Mint Condition
Raphael Saadiq

and many others have all brought it and been bringing it both live and on record.

You cannot call legendary status if you ask me, off of two albums.
That's premature. 12 years for one album? Not even fair to bring up names like Prince and JB, both who worked tirelessly both in terms of releases and live shows. It's apples and oranges.

"I see your point..but to me there really have only been 2 live performers that at their best were totally original and that's James Brown and Jimi Hendrix....(I would say P-Funk but I think Pfunk was PURPOSELY a manifestation of various styles that proceeded them...done in a super unique and ground breaking way) Other then them everybody is rockin it like somebody else...Unique, yet conjuring spirits past..."

They might have not been completely original but they at least took what was before them to another level.

Prince. Was he directly influenced by Sly's studio work and James live show? Yes, what he did differently was he took those elements and ushered them into the electronic era, both in studio and stage.

"I've never been mad at D'Angelo for that....because I'm gonna roll with the guy who is doing it the RIGHT way when er'body else around him is faking and fabricating shit...."

I hear you but there is some fabrication in this as well. Going thru the process is great, however the results are really the issue. I liked the Voodoo album - but I think we can all listen to that album and never once think James Brown or Prince. We shouldn't have to. We should just enjoy it. This need to apply 'legendary' status to a career of 2, soon to be 3 albums - when your naming names like

Hendrix - who's solo career was 4 years long - look what he accomplished?
Prince - who in ten years, released 10 albums under his name
3 under the time
1 under the family
1 under vanity 6
1 under appollonia 6
3 under madhouse
1 under Jill Jones
produced countless other artists from Stevie Nicks to The Bangles
not to mention two albums shelved (The Rebels - Dream Factory)
one triple album reduced (Crystal Ball)
and another bootleg that would be considered the most bootlegged album of all times (The Black Album).

You have to be kidding me.

directly influenced the underground electronic movement from Egyptian Lover to Xpose to Stevie B.

directly influenced the way r&b was being recorded and performed.

His production would then change not only black music but influence, new wave, electronica, pop - to the point it can be felt today in every popular artist from Rihanna to The Dream to Drake.

In none of those records are covers. All originals mind you.
For ten years to date Prince only covered two songs live that I can think of Joni's "Case of You" 1983 and "Superbad" 1986.

That's how strong that man worked.

James? Even twice as much when you consider how often he toured.

History and facts alone doesn't support this argument and it's so unnecessary.

I can enjoy D's performances and should w/o name dropping names that were not only powerhouses but prolific.

When you say

Hendrix
Sly
Prince
James - these were artists who not only worked hard in the studio but on stage. They took chances. They were not afraid to fail publicly. D'ngelo's career will be 20 years long in just a few years. 3 albums to credit? Hopefully 3 really good albums - but still apples and oranges.

And that's no slight on D, that's more than fine with me. I'm more than happy with just that - yet that is exactly why I won't compare him to anyone, just let it live on it's own two legs.

Now I agree Kap is the master of revisionism - lol
can't lie. But I'm saying...?

I'm no D hater btw and I agree with you almost 99 percent of the time - this is the only time we haven't seen eye to eye.

btw I actually like this tour better.

>You have to be kidding me.
>
>directly influenced the underground electronic movement from
>Egyptian Lover to Xpose to Stevie B.

Let's chill on the revisionism here before we start claiming that Prince also composed "eine kleine nachtmusik" and painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel too,

Expose/Stevie B and stuff like that came from a different place altogether... not from Prince. Stevie B came from NYC freestyle which was an offshoot of disco, hip-hop and Latin music. Expose was Hi_NRG which came from freestyle and other post-disco pop coming from the UK gay clubs.

Other than that, I'm agreeing with a lot that you've said (though I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't call WC out for making a bogus statement like the only 2 original performers have been JB and Hendrix. For REALS?)


>Hendrix
>Sly
>Prince
>James - these were artists who not only worked hard in the
>studio but on stage. They took chances. They were not afraid
>to fail publicly. D'ngelo's career will be 20 years long in
>just a few years. 3 albums to credit? Hopefully 3 really good
>albums - but still apples and oranges.

Bingo on the artists who took chances... That's exactly what I've been saying for years, that I'm disappointed that D had to be so insecure and scared to just DO his shit rather than worrying about it.

Also: let's be aware of the fact that D has not released a third album yet and I don't think we should even factor that in until he actually puts it out. I've heard all the "D's album is 98% finished talk, but I also heard the exact same thing back in 2004. So until that album is officially released, I can only say that he's made 2 albums in 17 years.


>Now I agree Kap is the master of revisionism - lol
>can't lie. But I'm saying...?

Whatever. I back all my shit up (or at least the majority of my shit) with facts. Whether you guys choose to accept these facts or willfully close your eyes because you prefer to believe some other fantasy... that's on you.

love for Prince. Pretty common knowledge.


"Let's chill on the revisionism here before we start claiming that Prince also composed "eine kleine nachtmusik" and painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel too,"

If you can't immediately see the effect Prince had on them I don't know what to tell you.

"Expose/Stevie B and stuff like that came from a different place altogether... not from Prince. Stevie B came from NYC freestyle which was an offshoot of disco, hip-hop and Latin music. Expose was Hi_NRG which came from freestyle and other post-disco pop coming from the UK gay clubs."

Two different arguments - being influenced by and coming from are two different posts. NO?

"Other than that, I'm agreeing with a lot that you've said (though I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't call WC out for making a bogus statement like the only 2 original performers have been JB and Hendrix. For REALS?)"

Actually I did. Re-read what I wrote.


>Hendrix
>Sly
>Prince
>James - these were artists who not only worked hard in the
>studio but on stage. They took chances. They were not afraid
>to fail publicly. D'ngelo's career will be 20 years long in
>just a few years. 3 albums to credit? Hopefully 3 really good
>albums - but still apples and oranges.

"Bingo on the artists who took chances... That's exactly what I've been saying for years, that I'm disappointed that D had to be so insecure and scared to just DO his shit rather than worrying about it."

I mean sure - but it's also safe to Say if D'angelo isn't a chance taker then so be it - not a slight against him in anyway.

"
Also: let's be aware of the fact that D has not released a third album yet and I don't think we should even factor that in until he actually puts it out. I've heard all the "D's album is 98% finished talk, but I also heard the exact same thing back in 2004. So until that album is officially released, I can only say that he's made 2 albums in 17 years."

Even when it's done it won't get that 'legendary' stamp of approval cause 3 albums in 20 years is just lazy by comparison to anyone on that list. 1 album per decade as oppossed to Prince who will give you ten plus albums per decade.


>Now I agree Kap is the master of revisionism - lol
>can't lie. But I'm saying...?

"Whatever. I back all my shit up (or at least the majority of my shit) with facts. Whether you guys choose to accept these facts or willfully close your eyes because you prefer to believe some other fantasy... that's on you."

Your idea of facts are not quite the same as anyone else's.
I'll just leave it there.

Listening to records and forming opinions are not facts my man.

and his stage antics also were not all that original
and like most performers were often pre-planned and rehearsed

I wasn't referring to Jimi Hendrix so called stage antics....

I was talking about his Live musical performances....

Jimi Hendrix ability on the guitar to play the rhythm line and lead lines simultaneously...while soloing in a manner that hasn't been seen before or since was not something that was copied... He had an ability in that area that nobody else had...

Nobody could do this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=argqbrGB0hg

nobody... a 3 piece band making music that powerful....

naw....

That technique is an old blues technique and has been done many many time by various guitarists. I love Hendrix, I think what should be noted isn't the technique - that's just extreme proficiency - the likes of which I have seen even superior. No it's his soul in the playing that really defines Jimi.

That technique is even being utilized today. Not at all trying to be contrarian - honestly cause again I take your opinion over pretty much the rest on here lol.

However that's not fair to many guitarists.

But jimi was the man.

>That technique is an old blues technique and has been done
>many many time by various guitarists. I love Hendrix, I think
>what should be noted isn't the technique - that's just extreme
>proficiency - the likes of which I have seen even superior.
>No it's his soul in the playing that really defines Jimi.
>
>That technique is even being utilized today. Not at all
>trying to be contrarian - honestly cause again I take your
>opinion over pretty much the rest on here lol.
>
>However that's not fair to many guitarists.
>
>But jimi was the man.
>

Jimi brought that blues technique to a level it hadn't been before or since....

Stick to a topic you know about like Alicia Keys being funky, bro.


>I wasn't referring to Jimi Hendrix so called stage
>antics....
>
>I was talking about his Live musical performances....
>
>Jimi Hendrix ability on the guitar to play the rhythm line and
>lead lines simultaneously...while soloing in a manner that
>hasn't been seen before or since was not something that was
>copied... He had an ability in that area that nobody else
>had...
>
>Nobody could do this...
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=argqbrGB0hg
>
>nobody... a 3 piece band making music that powerful....
>
>naw....
>
>

he brings her out on stage every chance he gets...

So I guess they must have been funking HOARD

current tour is underwhelming
more misses then hits

Have you seen it????

I never saw the Voodoo show in person - only clips on youtube etc - I have also listened to all the recordings from the tour and I rate it as one of the best - the musicianship is spot on throughout and the vibe is unique.

I will be at the show in Brixton London on Friday so I will be able to make some sort of comparison but I don't think the Testimony loses anything on the Soultronics at all - there is a different vibe but what is heartening is that its all real - no tapes, no lip synching or autotune - something rare these days

it's just OKP's tend to limit their scope.

I mean think about it - even the people here wouldn't have given D a shot at 300 pounds... so trust this spot is no different than Playboy mag in that regard.

Van Hunt, Martin Luther, Bilal, Maxwell just to name a few of D'angelo's contemporaries put on better live shows and this current band Testimony has been out of tune, off key, back up singers out of harmony, basically sounding like a p-funk/Prince cover band, so far I have seen nothing yet to get excited about from this current touring band.

Sure the Prince-lite track are cool, but where and what is D'angelo's sound?


Van Hunt and Martin Luther are better guitar players then D'angelo, yet mofos are on her jezzing they pants over D'angelo strumming three chords like nigga is the next Zappa.

Sorry folks, but Pino on bass live is about like listening to paint dry.

Currently D is looking like and sounding like a nostalgia act. There is no risk in his sound, there is no freshness, there is nothing but a few new Prince-lite songs, and some funk-lite tracks.


>it's just OKP's tend to limit their scope.
>
>I mean think about it - even the people here wouldn't have
>given D a shot at 300 pounds... so trust this spot is no
>different than Playboy mag in that regard.
>
>

In other words we don't have to tear anyone down to lift another up.

Let everyone enjoy themselves and get it on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHwjLazizJ4

but my experience of being at the show - amazing, awe inspiring, i am in the presence of greatness - was never quite the same as when listening to cds of the shows, which sound strangely devoid of real tension, which you get from old prince or JB bootlegs. theres something missing, and i cant put my finger on it, but its prob just the usual dangelo thing - too much of a studied homage to the greats' to ever really cut loose from all that baggage. technically its amazing though. and it sounds immaculate too. and i think hes too obsessed with changing the old songs around unnecessarily. lady never sounded right funked up. im not sure brown sugar did either.

i prefer the jazz cafe recording, with the EWF cant hide love cover (which has one of the all time best dangelo vocals). it sounds more like dangelo doing dangelo.

actually i think that might be it. i think like alicia keys, who has also tried to be an 'entertainer, even though both give it a really, REALLY good shot, hes just not that kind of guy, hes more of a sit down and play the music kind of performer.

>but my experience of being at the show - amazing, awe
>inspiring, i am in the presence of greatness - was never quite
>the same as when listening to cds of the shows, which sound
>strangely devoid of real tension, which you get from old
>prince or JB bootlegs. theres something missing, and i cant
>put my finger on it, but its prob just the usual dangelo thing
>- too much of a studied homage to the greats' to ever really
>cut loose from all that baggage. technically its amazing
>though. and it sounds immaculate too. and i think hes too
>obsessed with changing the old songs around unnecessarily.
>lady never sounded right funked up. im not sure brown sugar
>did either.
>
>i prefer the jazz cafe recording, with the EWF cant hide love
>cover (which has one of the all time best dangelo vocals). it
>sounds more like dangelo doing dangelo.
>
>actually i think that might be it. i think like alicia keys,
>who has also tried to be an 'entertainer, even though both
>give it a really, REALLY good shot, hes just not that kind of
>guy, hes more of a sit down and play the music kind of
>performer.