Prince Lasha RIP

[B. Goren.]

[unsoundrecording]

Indeed sad news about Prince Lasha. I had the honor to work with him just a few months before his passing. He was wordplay clever, spiritual and just a blast to talk to. Just the history this guy had along with his amazing stories and chops. And sadly unrecorded in his later years... In Oct of this year, I booked a studio session with his close friend legendary trumpeter Eddie Gale/bassist Marcus Shelby/sax players Howard Wiley and David Boyce (Broun Fellinis) and drummer Darrell Green. Each musician offered a song/idea and off they went. Prince chose a ballad for himself and played his heart out throughout the day. The chemistry of those six musicians was rare and unharnessed. We talked about future gigs/projects/European tour. It's hard to believe this vital little volcano of a man would be silenced so soon after. I still can't believe it....

We're hoping to get the recording released in the Spring 2009 on Shelby's Noir Records and to do a tribute show for Prince in the Bay Area. Hopefully tie the two together. Also hoping this release and the reissues will bring renewed interest in Prince and his uncompromising amazing body of work.

Rest in peace Prince...

Eric M.

(photo by Paul Waters of Prince Lasha and Howard Wiley from Closer Recording studios SF Oct 18 th. 2008)

[White Lightning]

Here are a few words by Odean Pope. Mr. Pope gave me his permission to post this:

Dear Barak,

Thank you so very very much for your kind, warm and noble thoughts about

the passing of my very great friend Prince La Sha. Prince passed last Friday

morning December 12, 2008 at 1:25am.

Prince and I was very close friends, I spoke with Prince shortly before he passed

and we all knew that Prince were very sick unfortunately there wasn't any thing

that any one could do for him.

I met Prince in 1979 he was a very warm very special man. I would go to California

two or three times a year and Prince would insist that I stayed at his home we

would sometimes practice all night up into the next day. Durning this time was

when I composed and arranged the tribute composition "PRINCE LA SHA".

Prince played the Baritone Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, and Flute

and he played all of them very very good. Three weeks ago he called me up like

he would always do and played his Baritone Saxophone over the telephone

and we talked about musical concepts.

Prince was one of the true forerunner of this wonderful contemporary music that

we play. I feel very honored and very blessed to have shared band stands, concerts

dates and recording dates with this true forerunner.

Rest in peace Prince, we all love you.

[sheldonm]

...sorry to hear Prince passed away.

Here are a few photographs I made of him in NYC.

Mark~

[sheldonm]

....

[Bluesnik]

that is very sad news.

i have and will listen to one of his albums with Sonny Simmons, The Cry. will have to see what is out there as CD and what has been reissued.