Search - Eric Leeds, Prince :: Times Squared

Luxurious, Tight Compositions Performed without a Hitch

Gustave O. Frey | Oracle, AZ | 02/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With Prince and Sheila E. goading him on, Eric Leeds manages to pull off a major event here. He doles out rolling sax licks over syncopated Latin jazz rhythms that will curl your hair. This bean pole of a man handles a baritone sax like it was a toothpick and, gratefully, there is no sugary soprano sax thrown in. It reminds me of Herbie Hancock's fusion work, but I like it better because it goes far beyond its jazz foundations, taking elements from hard rock and pop. Prince's performances go way beyond anything I've heard from him, though, admittedly, I haven't heard that much.



There are a number of spaced-out, dreamy pieces that really draw you in. They are complemented by some brash, wonderfully overbearing fusion pieces, where the interplay between the instruments is truly outstanding.



All in all, there are more compelling musical ideas and touches crammed into this release than many jazz artists can claim in their entire oeuvre.



"Things Left Unsaid," which came out a mere two years or so after this release, is just the opposite. The compositions are poor and go nowhere. Many of the riffs that were intricately well-developed on "Times Squared" are just thrown out at you here. Even the one Prince collaboration is lame. The graphics are a bit pretentious, with some lost soul Mediterranean beauty idolizing the obviously tweaked Leeds, who seems to be somehow involved in a jazz performance that may or may not take place in a Moroccan bar whose only occupants seem to be the waiters and a couple of hitmen. Maybe they're all waiters, I don't know. Then there are mirrors to further idolize Mr. Leeds and confuse us. The pictures are as confusing, pompous and meaningless as the music, which is the only consistency here.



Waves have a habit of cresting and then crashing and I think these two releases give you a good example of just that. The first rides very high with some help from his "friends." The second has clearly overdone it for too long and needs something called rehab."

Leeds's first foray without Prince...almost

Scott Woods | Columbus, Ohio United States | 11/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sax player Eric Leeds - known principally for his stinging punches of sound and burlesque-hot solos on various Prince records and as a key member of the defunct band Madhouse - steps out on his own on this hard-to-get record. It's got a number of Prince-penned tunes on here, but for the most part it's a smooth jazz record with some rounded edges. It's solid, though a pretty simple affair when compared to his later albums, which more firmly venture into traditional jazz territory. Doesn't quite have the complexity of his later work, but is his most accesible work to date.If you're into contemporary jazz that isn't just somebody blowing over top of a Fresh Prince beat and you can actually find it, it's worth buying."