
Bobby Z (Star Tribune photo by Tom Wallace)
It was Valentine's Day and they had the balcony at the Dakota Jazz Club all to themselves during a performance by the Steeles.
The three couples were Mr. and Mrs. Larry Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Z and Prince and his girlfriend.
Inquiring minds want to know if Bobby Z discussed the possibility of Prince showing up Sunday night at First Avenue for a reunion of the "Purple Rain"-era Revolution (a benefit for the American Heart Association).
Said Z: "It was just old friends having dinner."
He indicated that the Revolution reunion -- featuring Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Mark Brown, Dr. Fink, Z, Dez Dickerson and Eric Leeds -- is pressing on with the assumption that Prince will not be participating. But organizer Z, who suffered a near-fatal heart attack in February 2011, is leaving the door open for Prince to show up.
Prince's old backing group, which disbanded in 1986, has reunited only once before -- a cameo performance at a Los Angeles charity gig organized by Sheila E.
Melvoin hasn't been to the Twin Cities since 2007, when Prince summoned her to sit in during his three concerts on 7/7/07. Coleman hasn't been here since 1988.