Describing Prince as 'The Teacher' - Greg and Pat Kane of 1980s pop, jazz and soul duo Hue and Cry talk about the inspiration of Minneapolis' favourite son. They discuss near misses at Paisley Park with Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, not to mention Bobby McFerrin - and Greg reminisces briefly on an after-show at The Garage nightclub in Glasgow. "Every Prince song in the 80s is like an education" they tell us. Featuring excerpts from their hits, b-sides and rarities throughout, this is essential listening for music lovers everywhere. Raised in Glasgow's Coatbridge in the 1970s to a father who worked at British Rail and a mother who was a District Midwife, Greg and Pat Kane were discovered in 1983 after being in various bands as students. As their demo was being played on Radio Clyde, a chance meeting with a manager led to a debut single ('Here Comes Everybody') capturing the interest of record labels in London. The single 'Labour of Love' broke them into the mainstream, and their early albums such as Seduced & Abandoned and Remote led to sell out tours. In the 90s they learned to live outside of the major label system, and have continued to diversify the way they've sold their music and concert tickets as they've retained a loyal fanbase. As lockdown restrictions have started to ease, they are about to go back on the road - both at Pizza Express jazz clubs with their intimate Piano and Microphone show, before joining the Essential 80s UK tour in the Autumn of 2022.
INTRO
With pianist Greg Kane
1min - "Prince is the teacher", and why the 1980s needs more respect. Funk as social commentary.
3min - Covering Sign 'O' The Times, audiophiles, working with jazz musicians and having no fear.
5mins30s - Seeing Prince after hours at the Garage in Glasgow.
7mins - Near misses with Wendy and Lisa, Bobby McFerrin and Paisley Park.
With vocalist Pat Kane
10mins - Musical background, jazz heritage, hearing Prince for the first time and the ambition of 1999.
13mins30s - the 80s as the era of 'half-punk, half synthesizer'.
15mins - the influence of 1986 album Parade on the band, and its 'majestic landscapes'.
17mins - The Family album, Prince's side projects and Eric Leeds ('the best funk saxophonist ever').
18mins45s - Sign O The Times: 'his sense of taste, and his choices are incredible'. Prince's phrasing and genius.
23mins - Horn riffs and discord in Prince's music, Alphabet street and arrangements in jazz, pop and soul.
26mins - the musical work and career of Clare Fischer and Rufusized by Chaka Khan.
28mins30s - Prince's solo piano and microphone work, Pat's favourite eras of Prince and reflection on his late career.
32mins30s - Acoustic album The Truth and solo piano album One Nite Alone.
33mins30s - Money Don't Matter 2Nite and Diamonds & Pearls (big band version on Bandzilla).
35mins - Music as protest, social commentary and rebellion in Prince's music.
36mins30s - Prince as the 'link' in African American roots music.
37mins30s - Gett Off: "Jazz is the preacher, but funk is the teacher" and the Pharaoh Saunders mode.
38mins - Funk like an elephants foot, George Clinton and musical theories.
39mins - Creating a zone of freedom for black artists, and The Work.
41mins30s - Creating tracks and new songs forming organically at jam sessions.
43mins - Memories of musical celebrations at Paisley Park with Prince.
45mins - Hoping to work with Quincy Jones at the height of their fame in the 1980s (and recording at Paisley Park).
47mins - Jamming with Stevie Wonder and D'Angelo.
49mins - Pat asks a Prince fan for thoughts on his untimely death.
56mins - Funk revivals, snap bass and Pop Life.
58mins - A Prince cover the band are ashamed of! And 80s nights at Butlins.
60mins - What question would Pat ask Prince if he were still alive today?