Prince passed last week. I played with him once at the Malcom X Jazz Arts Festival in East Oakland as part of trumpet player Eddie Gale's band. He really played his ass off that day.
In 2000 at Eddie Gale's free jazz/hip hop jam session he fell asleep sitting next to Peter Kowald, when he woke up and I introduced him to Peter, Peter nearly fainted.
I was especially bummed because he came to a concert of mine in Nov. and we had really nice and long conversation. He was a great person and player and most important to this site - he recorded with many of the finest double bass players:
Many know him from The Elvin Jones/Jimmy Garrison sextet where he wrote quite a bit of the music.
"Firebrids" is an all-star band, Buster Williams, Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Simmons and Charles Moffett.
His LP "The Cry" was one of Gary Peacock's first sessions:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Prince-L.../10592659.html
Inside story has a session each with Ron Carter and Cecil McBee:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Prince-L.../11320064.html
