Eutrice Ulysses "Prince" Shell

To anyone who knew Prince's arranging skills, I have created digital files (PDF) of the nearly 130 custom charts that make up "The Prince Shell Tentet Library." For information, please contact me through Local 586, American Federation of Musicians in Phoenix.

Prince sharing a laugh with 10tet saxophonist Virgil Lane Jr. at the Chandler Jazz Festival, 2003.

I was fortunate to have played with Prince at the Sky Room and later, thanks to Ted Goddard, in the 10~tet. I once asked Prince about writing drum parts and he said. "Oh, just give them a copy of the first trumpet part." Practical wisdom!

I have 3 memories to share. First. I remember performing with Prince several times and one thing I really enjoyed was his comping. He had a knack for being able to get real ambiguous harmonically. So if I started going "outside" his harmonic choices gave me all the rope I needed.(LOL). Along those same lines, I still marvel at how he was able to quote "Claire De Lune" just about anytime he wanted to AND make it fit!!! Finally, Prince was a man of few words. I will never forget his answer...

Prince comes to mind very often. Not only was he an amazing, talented and accomplished musician, he was a loving, generous, and caring human being. I miss Prince a lot.

Prince with Patricia Myers

Here is the link to a wonderful web page Allan Chase created in memory of Prince:
https://allanchase.com/prince-shell-in-memoriam

Friends and admirers of Prince might be interested in this. His funeral director requested that Batesville’s Living Memorial Program, which is administered in cooperation with the US Forest Service, plant a tree in a national forest to serve as a memorial to Prince. This has been done as part of a major US reforestation project. The tree species and location are determined by the Forest Service based on greatest need. Peace & blessings.