Purple One reigns, funks the night away at Fiddlerâs

By Tracy Rhines
The Metropolitan

Fiddlerâs Green was treated to royalty as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince claimed it as his own on Sunday, Oct. 5.

After Chaka Khanâs brilliant opening act, The Artist charged the crowd, opposing Greenwood Villageâs stringent noise ordinances with sheer chaos. He then jumped into James Brownâs ãTalking Loud,ä seguing into his own
ãLetâs Workä

The Artist held nothing back as he performed a handful of his vast catalog of music, old and new, before the end of the first set.

After seeing Fiddlerâs Green awash in the glow of lighter flames during a heartfelt and beautifully executed ãPurple Rain,ä the power of music was confirmed, proving once again the Purple One reigned the night.

During his second set, The Artist sang a slowjam medley that included most of his seductive hits: ãDo Me, Baby,ä 

ãScandalous,ä ãAdore,ä and ãInsatiable.ä  The rendition sparked an explosion of screams for the mostly female crowd.

Electrifying the crowd was not a hard task for The Artist as he flew from instrument to instrument in his tight black, red and white outfits, showing his virtuoso skills on keyboards, guitar and bass.

This was not a casual event, considering some patrons paid as much as $84 a ticket and made the front of Fiddlerâs look like a limousine dealership upon exiting.

The Artistâs band,  The New Power Generation was a showcase of brilliant musical talent as always.

Band members included drummer Kirk Johnson, guitarist Kathleen Dyson, keyboardist Morris Hayes, and an incredibly funky Rhonda Smith on bass.

 The band followed the energetic entertainer through all his surprising breaks and seamless song juxtapositions.

After the concert, there was only one complaint: ãHe didnât play ÎWhen Doves Cry!â ä Sources say he performed it at the official after-show party at The Church, 1100 Lincoln St., where the band played three sets until 5 a.m.

The total experience was unforgettable.