Known
for his warm baritone vocals, Gregory Porter rose to acclaim in the
2010s with his earthy, cross-pollinated brand of jazz, soul, and gospel.
A gifted singer of standards as well as more contemporary soul
material, Porter has earned favorable comparisons to his idols Nat King
Cole, Donny Hathaway, and Stevie Wonder. He announced his arrival by
picking up a Grammy nomination for his 2010 debut, Water. After signing
to Blue Note, he gained even wider notice for his third album, 2013’s
Liquid Spirit, which hit number two on the jazz charts, and won the
Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Although his original songs are his
main focus, Porter often returns to his roots, such as on his 2017
tribute album Nat King Cole & Me.
Born in Los Angeles in
1971, Porter grew up in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a
minister. It was through his mother’s record collection that he fell
under the spell of Cole, learning early on how to imitate him. Along
with singing, he was also a gifted athlete, and left high school with a
football scholarship to San Diego State University. However, after an
injury to his shoulder derailed his sports career, he moved to Brooklyn
where he worked days as a chef while performing in local jazz clubs. It
was during this period that he met saxophonist, composer, and pianist
Kamau Kenyatta.
Kenyatta quickly became Porter’s mentor,
introducing him to flutist Hubert Laws. Laws then featured Porter on a
track on his 1998 album, Hubert Laws Remembers the Unforgettable Nat
King Cole. Laws’ sister, Eloise Laws, also heard Porter during the
sessions and cast him as one of the leads in the musical It Ain’t
Nothing But the Blues, which eventually enjoyed a run on Broadway. In
2010, Porter released his debut album, Water, on Motéma Music.
Well-received, it picked up a Grammy nod for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Be
Good followed two years later and further showcased Porter’s growing
confidence.
In September of 2013, Porter issued his third album
and Blue Note debut, Liquid Spirit. Produced by Brian Bacchus, the album
was a huge success, landing at number two on the Billboard Top Jazz
Albums chart, and scooping up the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal
Album. It also became the one of the most streamed jazz albums of all
time, with over 20 million streams. His second effort for Blue Note,
Take Me to the Alley, was released in early 2016, and featured Porter’s
own version of “Holding On,” a track he co-wrote and previously recorded
with electronic act Disclosure. Also in 2016, Porter delivered the
concert album Live in Berlin.
The following year he released an
album that paid tribute to the artist who had been most influential on
his own music. Nat King Cole & Me featured Porter’s versions of some
of Cole’s most treasured classics, including “Smile” and “Mona Lisa.”
The concert album One Night Only: Live at the Royal Albert Hall arrived
in 2018. ~ Matt Collar
https://www.gregoryporter.com/about/
///////
Nacido en Los Ángeles en 1971, Porter creció en Bakersfield, California, donde su madre era ministra. Fue a través de la colección de discos de su madre como cayó bajo el hechizo de Cole, aprendiendo muy pronto a imitarle. Además de cantante, también era un atleta dotado, y dejó el instituto con una beca de fútbol para la Universidad Estatal de San Diego. Sin embargo, después de que una lesión en el hombro desbaratara su carrera deportiva, se trasladó a Brooklyn, donde trabajaba de día como chef mientras actuaba en clubes de jazz locales. Fue durante este periodo cuando conoció al saxofonista, compositor y pianista Kamau Kenyatta.
Kenyatta se convirtió rápidamente en el mentor de Porter y le presentó al flautista Hubert Laws. Laws incluyó a Porter en un tema de su álbum de 1998, Hubert Laws Remembers the Unforgettable Nat King Cole. La hermana de Laws, Eloise Laws, también escuchó a Porter durante las sesiones y lo eligió como uno de los protagonistas del musical It Ain't Nothing But the Blues, que llegó a representarse en Broadway. En 2010, Porter publicó su álbum debut, Water, en Motéma Music. Tuvo una buena acogida y recibió un Grammy al mejor álbum vocal de jazz. Be Good le siguió dos años más tarde y mostró aún más la creciente confianza de Porter.
Tracks:
1 - Mona Lisa - 4:19
2 - Smile - 4:18
3 - Nature Boy - 3:45
4 - L-O-V-E - 2:09
5 - Quizas,Quizas, Quizas - 4:31
6 - Miss Otis Regrets - 4:31
7 - Pick Yourself Up - 3:12
8 - When love Was King - 7:44
9 - The Lonely One - 4:34
10 - Ballerina - 2:54
11 - I Wonder Who My Daddy Is - 3:48
12 - But Beautiful - 4:33
13 - Sweet Lorraine - 3:36
14 - For All We Know - 5:33
15 - The Christmas Song - 3:46
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor, Producer – Vince Mendoza
Bass – Reuben Rogers
Drums – Ulysses Owens
Orchestra – The London Studio Orchestra
Piano – Christian Sands
Trumpet – Terence Blanchard (tracks: 4,15)
Vocals – Gregory Porter
2017
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