Last Thursday night saw Donna Grantis return to the Dakota. Grantis, a Canadian guitarist known for her affiliations with Prince (she played in both 3rdeyegirl and NPG), was celebrating the release of her Debut album Diamonds & Dynamite. Grantis and her band played through most of the album, impressing at every turn with their unique jazz fusion and well-developed chops.
Grantis was backed by JT Bates, Cody McKinney, Bryan Nichols, and Suphala. Each brought a unique contribution to Grantis’ vision. Though the music they played qualifies as fusion, and included elements of rock, jazz, blues, and more, the jazz background of the players is what showed through more than anything else. Their ability to improvise, both within and outside of the arrangements was top-notch and gave the performance an unpredictable, yet comfortable feel. Each player was highly active and took a solo from time to time, but none of them overstayed their welcome in the limelight. This band was balanced, which was beautiful to watch.
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Though each player was great, it was Suphala who caught my attention the most. A world-class tabla player, Suphala’s playing brought a dynamic you wouldn’t expect from any jazz or fusion group. Her playing brought the songs to the next level. It was the first time I’d ever seen a tabla played in concert, in any context, and its inclusion was a tremendous part of the experience.
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Grantis herself was another highlight. While she was an important and skilled part of 3rdeyegirl, watching her lead the band at the Dakota showed off more dimensions than any of her previous work. Her complex arrangements and ability to navigate them were engaging and her playing was rangy. Whether she was playing a big solo or supporting one of her talented bandmates, she was always on top of things.
That Grantis and co. would play the Dakota is fitting, as it was one of Prince’s favorite venues. With an ambitious album and an excellent live show to celebrate, there’s no doubt that the Purple One would be proud.
