Music: It's homecoming night for the Time

Barry Bonds, Bette Midler and Kevin Garnett showed up. Prince sent seven dozen yellow roses. All because of the reunion of the original members of the Time in Las Vegas this summer.

Don't expect that kind of star power tonight when the iconic Twin Cities R&B band, purveyors of the vaunted Minneapolis Sound that put the Mill City on the musical map in the 1980s, reunite for the grand opening of -- appropriately -- the Hotel Minneapolis. But do expect a funky, fun and emotional evening.

"The last time I remember the full band playing in Minneapolis was the Black Music Awards," keyboardist Jimmy Jam said. That was in 1982 or '83, figures bassist and bandleader Terry Lewis.

A volatile mix of egos, the group reunited for the Grammy Awards in February, then 15 gigs in Las Vegas.

"One of the things that was precious about this experience was our young kids got to see us perform and they had never seen that before," Lewis, 51, said last week from Flyte Tyme Studios in Santa Monica, Calif., where they relocated in 2004.

In a separate interview, Jam, 49, agreed. "It was amazing to have my kids there every night and they didn't miss a single show," Jam said as he was picking up his three children, ages 8 to 12, from school.

He also appreciated hanging out with the guys. "It was fun just to be a keyboard player," said the man who has worn many hats. "And it's the roots -- it's where we started."

Although frontman Morris Day put together a new version of the Time in 1996, the original members had been contemplating a reunion for a while. Last fall, Lewis suggested a recording project. Then Jam, who is chairman of the board of the Recording Academy, landed them a Grammys gig. That widely watched appearance led to a limited engagement at the Flamingo Hotel reprising "777-9311," "Jungle Love" and "Cool."

"Terry called it a paid summer vacation," Jam said. But Jam and Lewis were also checking out the Time's chemistry and commitment, and the fan reaction. "Everyone who came was satisfied, and more," Lewis reports.

Before landing at the Flamingo, the Time had nearly finished recording a new album -- their first since 1990's "Pandemonium," a reunion project tied to Prince's film "Graffiti Bridge" -- but they came up with more song concepts in Vegas, Jam said. They hope to finish the CD this fall and then determine how to distribute it (they have offers from major labels).

In Vegas, they performed one new number, "See Through." Said Lewis: "The song is about our favorite color when it comes to a woman, in terms of her attire."

In other words, these funky lotharios haven't changed their sensibilities.

For now, at least, the old bandmates seem to be getting along just fine.

"Eighteen years is a long time," Jam said. "Being a parent, you have a lot more patience. Your priorities change. We place emphasis on what's important and don't get caught up in the little piddly things anymore."

Musically, one big change is Jesse Johnson's guitar chops. "He's more amazing than before as a guitarist," said Lewis, who worked with him last year on a Chaka Khan album.

The original Time may expire but the future seems promising, whether they return to Vegas, headline their own tour -- or even hit the road with Prince. "I don't know how much we'd enjoy it, but the fans would," Jam said.

"My attitude is, everybody feels like we're enjoying it and at a certain point we probably aren't going to enjoy it, so let's take advantage while we are."

That group, billed as Morris Day & the Time, performed last month at the Minnesota Zoo and will play Dec. 20 at Treasure Island Casino in Red Wing. Day could not be reached for comment, but Jam said that "what he's doing in no way diminishes the brand or the legacy."

Always busy, Jam and Lewis are working on a covers album by "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard, a CD by R&B singer Deborah Cox and possibly something with Grammy- winning soul man John Legend.

They're excited about their young kids getting a chance to see them perform in Minneapolis for the first time.

"My kids haven't been back [in the Twin Cities] since Thanksgiving 2006," Jam said. "They miss the snow. I live for my kids. That's the most important thing I do now."