This entry details an untitled instrumental album by NPG Q, recorded in August 2014. NPG Q (short for NPG Quartet) was a band assembled by Prince in July 2014, that comprised John Blackwell on drums, Andrew Gouché on bass, Marcus Anderson on saxophone and Xavier Taplin on keyboards. The band played with Kandace Springs at her show at Paisley Park Studios on 26 July 2014 broadcast live on 3rdEye TV. Prince also asked them to rehearse some songs without him, which they did for two weeks. After those rehearsals, a show billed as the “Supermoon Recording Session” was held at Paisley Park on 10 August 2014. The name of the 4-piece band mentioned on the flyer was NPJazz. Ten songs were played that night, beginning with Hit It And Quit It, in fact a cover of Chameleon and most likely not slated for the album. Prince guested for the first two songs during the show. When asked on Twitter if the show was recorded and if it will be released, @3RDEYEGIRL replied: "BAND IN STUDIO A MIXING IT DOWN NOW"
Nik West confirmed that the band was working on the tracks by posting a video on Tumblr with Andrew Gouché, Xavier Taplin and Kirk Johnson listening to Mind Of J at Paisley Park Studios. Further sessions were done and Prince added his guitar to the songs. A month later on 18 September 2014, Dr Funkenberry tweeted: ""NPG Q" NEW RECORD OF 9 SONGS WITH PRINCE, ANDREW GOUCHÉ, JOHN BLACKWELL, XAVIER AND MARCUS ANDERSON"
NPG Q played EBlues and Shaft during the release-party for the Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum albums at Paisley Park Studios on 30 September 2014.
The planned album was shelved when John Blackwell left to tour with D’Angelo in October.
Andrew Gouché has confirmed that Mind Of J (written by John Blackwell and previously released with his band, the John Blackwell Project, on their “4Ever Jia” album), his own Way Back When (that he wrote and would release on his first album "We Don’t Need No Bass" in a re-recorded form in 2015) and There’s That (written by Marcus Anderson) were also planned for the NPG Q album. Additionally, Marcus Anderson wrote Dandelion solely, after Prince told him a story about his father. The track was later re-recorded with other musicians, and released by Anderson in 2017 on his “Limited Release” album. Nothing is known about Trojan Horse, EBlues, 6/8 Joint, Shaft and Dome except that they were not written by Prince.
It is assumed that Prince produced the album and played guitar on all the tracks of the NPG Q album.
All of the songs recorded for the NPG Q project remain unreleased.
|