If you know
Donna Grantis' name, it's probably because of her association with
Prince. As a member of
3rdEyeGirl, she had the daunting task of being the second guitarist in
Prince's band. Diamonds & Dynamite is her debut album, but don't expect a continuation of
3rdEyeGirl's music. On the contrary, this album is a throwback to old-school fusion guitar albums like Blow by Blow and Wired, but often with denser rhythms out of the On the Corner book. She put together a great band with bass, drums, Rhodes/organ, and tabla (no, this is not an Indian/Jazz crossover album, she just has a tabla player in the band). The tunes are well-written with knotty unison sections of guitar/keys that open up for interaction and improvisation. The band has a fantastic sense of group dynamics, laying into a groove when it's called for and laying back when appropriate. Drummer JT Bates is especially effective, sometimes switching between his kit and shaker or percussion in mid-song while Suphala's tabla keeps the beat. Bryan Nichols is excellent on both Rhodes and organ while Cody McKinney does a nice job with the low end. Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) guests on a couple tracks, but his appearance is almost superfluous given how great the rest of the album is. But this is really Grantis' show all the way. She not only wrote all the tunes and played guitar, but produced and engineered as well, and her sense of taste and restraint nearly equals her chops. One might expect a guitar slinger to try to prove themselves with some dazzling technical passages, but she doesn’t play a note until more than a minute into the opener, and even then it's all languid ebow. Of course, she can also rip it up when she wants to, as on the title track or the cuts with McCready. She's a great player who, like Jeff Beck, isn't afraid to just make some skronky noises if they fit in. The open, live sound of the album is wonderful, and the band is clearly made up of players who can listen and play. Fans of players like Jeff Beck in his fusion days or Terje Rypdal should pay attention to this one. Diamonds & Dynamite is an excellent album and an unqualified success.