Jill Jones

Among Prince’s 1980s side projects, Jill Jones sounded like an extension of The Family/Parade sound — most identifiable by the addition of horn instruments and orchestral strings to his music, with Jill’s soulful vocals layered over his pop tracks. The feel of Jill Jones recalls purple music filtered through Europe: see the Italian hook of lead single “Mia Bocca” and its Jean-Baptiste Mondino-directed video, or the French accordion interlude on the lovely “Violet Blue.” Aside from Sheila E., Jill Jones remains the most multifaceted, layered persona of all the so-called Prince protégés. This album is why.