Free Bird

On Monday, I was at The Mod Club to hear a mostly instrumental set by Donna Grantis. I first encountered this guitarist when she played with Hill And The Sky Heroes while some in Toronto probably remembered her jazz trio. But most people first heard of Grantis when Prince called her to form a backing band with him called 3rdEYEGIRL. That call changed her life and she subsequently played at some of the biggest venues in the world in front of screaming fans. Grantis herself has since settled permanently in Minneapolis and on this new solo outing is returning to her jazz roots with a touch of rock.

This set left me feeling ambivalent. The band on stage was immensely talented but they didn't gel for me. I have written before about my own negative reaction to endless jazz solos. So that was already a turn off for me. Secondly, a lot of the extended ones came from keyboard player James Hill. His love of complicated, atonal solos didn't seem to fit to songs that were more rock or funk. Suphala's fine tabla playing seemed almost an afterthought. Local outfit Autorickshaw does a better synthesis of jazz and Indian drumming. So I appreciated the more straight-forward, rock numbers including during the encore when Grantis invited local friends to sing including SATE.

But other people obviously enjoyed the show more than me. There was one gentleman who yelled his appreciation almost non-stop between songs (and sometimes during them). Others were less obnoxious enthusiastic but still thrilled with the music.