The Eddie Prince Fusion Band

Biography

The Eddie Prince Fusion Band is a fictional jazz fusion ensemble created by acclaimed producer and DJ Madlib as part of his sprawling universe of imaginary jazz groups. Emerging in the mid-2000s, the band was conceived as a playful homage to the experimental jazz and fusion collectives of the 1970s and 1980s, blending elements of jazz, funk, and avant-garde improvisation. The group is best known for its appearance on releases associated with Madlib's 'Yesterdays Universe' project, which celebrated the spirit of jazz innovation through a series of pseudonymous acts.

The band’s only known track, 'Mtume's Song,' references the influential jazz and R&B musician James Mtume, further underscoring the project’s roots in jazz history and fusion traditions. While The Eddie Prince Fusion Band never existed as a performing or recording group in the traditional sense, its inclusion in Madlib’s discography reflects the producer’s deep reverence for jazz’s collaborative and boundary-pushing ethos. The project stands as a testament to Madlib’s creativity and his ability to blur the lines between reality and fiction in music.

Though the band itself has no direct legacy, its fictional existence contributes to the mythos of Madlib’s work, inspiring listeners to explore the rich tapestry of jazz fusion and the playful possibilities of musical storytelling.

Fun Facts

• The Eddie Prince Fusion Band is not a real group, but one of many fictional bands invented by Madlib for his jazz projects.
• Their only known track, 'Mtume's Song,' is a tribute to jazz and R&B musician James Mtume.
• The band’s name playfully references both jazz fusion traditions and the practice of inventing elaborate backstories for musical projects.
• The Eddie Prince Fusion Band appears alongside other fictional acts like the Young Jazz Rebels and The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz Ensemble in Madlib’s Yesterdays Universe.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• James Mtume - Stylistic inspiration for 'Mtume's Song' and the band's fusion aesthetic ('Mtume's Song') [1970s-1980s (influence), 2000s (project creation)]

Key Collaborators

• Madlib - Creator, producer, and conceptual architect of the band and its music (Yesterdays Universe project, Stones Throw Records releases) [2000s]

Artists Influenced

• Yesterdays Universe All Stars - Part of the broader fictional jazz collective inspired by Madlib’s concept bands (Various tracks under the Yesterdays Universe umbrella) [2000s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Mtume's Song (Yesterdays Universe: Prepare For A New Yesterday (Volume 1))
2. Mtume's Song (Yesterdays Universe: Prepare For A New Yesterday (Volume 1))
3. Mtume's Song (Yesterdays Universe: Prepare For A New Yesterday (Volume 1))

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz