📰 Funk & Finesse – Bass Player: Jun. 2004

Six‑page feature + two pages of adverts

📰 Subtitle or Issue Context

A June 2004 Bass Player cover spotlighting Rhonda Smith and her deep musical partnership with Prince during the Musicology era. The issue positions Smith as one of the most versatile and technically gifted bassists in modern funk, with Prince as both collaborator and catalyst.

📰 Overview

This issue of Bass Player dives into the musical engine behind Prince’s early‑2000s resurgence. The six‑page feature explores:

• Rhonda Smith’s evolution as Prince’s bassist

• The technical and emotional demands of playing in his band

• The precision, discipline, and improvisational freedom required

• The unique musical chemistry between Smith and Prince

• The role of bass in shaping the Musicology tour’s sound

The article positions Smith not as a sideman but as a co‑architect of the era’s live arrangements — someone who could match Prince’s intensity, adaptability, and exacting standards.

📰 Source Details

Publication: Bass Player

Issue Date: June 2004

Price: £3.50

Format: Six‑page feature + two pages of adverts

Provenance Notes: Comag UK edition; part of the broader Musicology press cycle.

📰 The Story

The feature highlights Rhonda Smith’s:

• technical mastery

• deep musical intuition

• ability to anticipate Prince’s shifts mid‑performance

• grounding presence in a band built on spontaneity

Prince is presented as both demanding and inspiring — a bandleader who pushes musicians to their limits while giving them space to shine.

The article also touches on:

• the Musicology tour’s emphasis on musicianship

• the resurgence of live instrumentation in Prince’s work

• the interplay between bass, rhythm guitar, and Prince’s own lead lines

• the broader context of funk’s evolution in the 2000s

The accompanying adverts reinforce the issue’s gear‑centric focus, with reviews of multi‑effects units, cabinets, and boutique basses.

📰 Key Highlights

• Six‑page deep dive into Rhonda Smith’s work with Prince

• Focus on technique, tone, and live performance dynamics

• Contextualised within the Musicology tour and Prince’s renewed mainstream presence

• Two pages of gear adverts reflecting the era’s bass culture

• A rare look at Prince’s band from a musician’s perspective

📰

Bass Player — Cover + six‑page feature, June 2004.

📰 Article Text

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📰 Related Material

• Explore the tags below for connected eras and themes.

📰 Closing Notes

This Bass Player feature stands as one of the most detailed examinations of Prince’s early‑2000s live sound — a testament to Rhonda Smith’s artistry and to Prince’s ability to elevate and be elevated by the musicians around him.

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