Prince & 3rdEyeGirl @Ronnie Scott´s (1st Show)

Prince @Ronnie Scott´s (1st Show)

Alejandro De Luna

Prince´s legendary gig at Ronnie Scott´s was the most intimate from the incredible Hit & Run Tour with around 200 lucky (and devoted) fans that queued for more than 12 hours and a guest list with the likes of Noel Gallagher, Adele, Nile Rodgers, Stephen Fry and Kate Moss.

Sitting on keyboards, the purple wizard proved his unquestionable talent to shine with a completely different set. His unique ability to reinvent himself with a jazzy, soulful set and a handful of classics, confirmed (once again) nothing but Prince´s genius beyond any question.

Soho was one of the artistic heartbeats of London and the world that since the mid 18th century attracted artists, poets, travesties, prostitutes, musicians and free thinkers that gave a bohemian vibe in the area. And despite a lot of things changed, there are still some venues and corners that preserve the good history. One of those places is: Ronnie Scott´s.

Ronnie Scott´s is a club full of mysticism, bohemian decadence and a venue that sweats history, work and art. It is one of the best jazz clubs in the world and one of the most legendary venues in London. From Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield, Ella Fitzgerald to Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Glenn Miller. All the greats played here. With neon lights and posters announcing the long list of upcoming sold-out gigs. With Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart´s former historic home marked with a blue plaque just in front of the club for making this site even more eclectic and with a rainy cold night above us waiting for the purple wizard to give one of his most unique and personal shows. This was a night to remember.

Twelve hours queuing brings out the best and worst in people. It is interesting as a social experiment to see how people connect with each other after such a long time. People from different parts of the world; beer and wine; cigarettes; cheap sandwiches and fights within the crowd as a consequence of tension, anger, hunger, cold and probably too many beers. But all with the same goal: to be in Ronnie Scott’s and to be part – at least for an hour or more – of history.

Around midnight, the gates finally opened. Marcus Anderson´s sax and Prince sitting on keyboards and synthesizers instead of leading with guitar, made all clear that this show was different. Not the monstrous guitar jams and Hendrix-like solos like on the other gigs for tonight. This was more special, intimate and it was time to pay respect with a different set to a venue that has been giving so much to real music.

Almost 10 minutes that included a jazzy jam; “Liathacth”; and the unreleased instrumental “Shade Of Umber” and Prince didn’t say a word neither sang a note until a bluesy solo from Donna Grantis exploded into an intimate version of 1987´s classic “I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man” followed by another sax that lead to “Beautiful Strange” with Prince´s voice at his best. It was like if the genius of Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and Al Green surrounded him in a strangely beautiful moment.

The intimate set continued and twisted into funk with a pair of tributes to Bill Withers and  Sly & The Family Stone. “Should we take you back to the 80s?” said the purple wizard and a set of favourites started with a medley that included “Take Me With You”; “Raspberry Beret” and “Cool´s” funk.

First encore consisted of Prince´s more personal songs: “Do Me, Baby” with a unique falsetto and a heartbreaking piano that lead into another medley that included other favourites like “Diamonds and Pearls”, “The Beautiful Ones”, “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” and “How Come U Don´t Call Me Anymore”.

The brilliant “Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)” from 1982; a cover from The Waterboys and “Purple Rain”, ended the legendary night with Prince´s expected but unwanted phrase due to the fans still waiting outside the venue: “We have other family members that want to come inside but thank you all. Good Night”, and that was it. 80 minutes from the master sitting on keyboards and offering jazz, soul, funk and blues passages to an exhausted crowd. One of the most brilliant live sets I ever witnessed. My only complain: Too short.

One of the most sensitive artists of all time. A genius, a star. An artist that can play any kind of music. Once again, Prince is something we will never comprehend.

Setlist

‘Liathach’ (Jo Hamilton cover)

‘Shade Of Umber’

‘I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man’

‘Beautiful Strange’

‘Who Is He And What Is He 2 U?’ (Bill Withers Cover)

‘Sex Machine’ (Sly & The Family Stone Cover)

‘Take Me With You’

‘Raspberry Beret’

‘Cool’ (The Time cover)

FIRST ENCORE

‘Do Me Baby’

‘Diamonds And Pearls’

‘The Beautiful Ones’

‘The Most Beautiful Girl In The World’

‘How Come U Don´t Call Me Anymore’

‘Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)’

SECOND ENCORE

‘The Whole Of The Moon’ (The Waterboys cover)

‘Purple Rain’