Water

by Gregory Porter

Overview

This recording from jazz vocalist Gregory Porter, produced by Kamau Kenyatta, is billed as a program of songs based on themes of love and protest. Whether pining, yearning, or speaking out against injustice, Porter's voice is clearly understood in his attempt to tell you how he feels emotionally. While stylistically similar to the late Gregory Hines, Porter phrases like Stevie Wonder and enunciates the lyrics similar to Kurt Elling, while also incorporating techniques of singers like Jimmy Witherspoon and Joe Williams. Porter wrote most of the material, but also borrows from the show tune legacy, or modernists like Wayne Shorter. Many of these tracks feature him only with pianist Chip Crawford in preludes or complete duets, and they are introspective, as you might expect. Then there's the ode to riot-stricken Detroit "1960 What?," a powerful and deep piece that reminds the world what happened to the once industrial capital of the world. In hard bop trim, Shorter's "Black Nile" (featuring the legendary James Spaulding as guest alto saxophonist) has Porter shouting out a lyric line that was done many years ago by Chicago's Luba Raashiek, but Porter's voice is strained and breaks up. While on every track Porter sings with great conviction, he's more effective on lower-key compositions like the cascading title track, comping with a small horn section, or in sentimental repast for the modal, loping tale of complete heartbreak, "Pretty." His all-solo-vocal take on "Feeling Good" is an absolute showstopper of personalized soul. Without conceding that love is nothing more than an illusion, Gregory Porter plays the part of the dulled but still hopeful romantic to the hilt. As an impressive, substantive vocalist, he will have much more to say during future anticipated projects. He's right up there with Jose James as the next big male vocal jazz star. ~ Michael G. Nastos

Product Details

Release Date:	05/13/2022
Label:	Blue Note
UPC:	0602438782420
Rank:	77907

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Illusion
2. Pretty
3. Magic Cup
4. Skylark
5. Black Nile
6. Wisdom

Disc 2

7. 1960 What?
8. 1960 What?
9. But Beautiful
10. Lonely One
11. Water
12. Feeling Good

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gregory Porter   Primary Artist,Vocals
Chip Crawford   Piano
James Spaulding   Sax (Alto)
Kafele Bandele   Trumpet
Robert Stringer   Trombone
Chuck McPherson   Drums
Melvin Vines   Trumpet
Curtis Taylor   Trumpet
Aaron James   Bass,Double Bass
Emanuel Harold   Drums
Yoske Sato   Sax (Alto)
Yosuke Sato   Sax (Alto)
Emanuel Harrold   Drums

Technical Credits

Geoff Countryman   Mixing,Engineer,Mastering Engineer
Chip Crawford   Arranger,Recording Arranger
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Wayne Shorter   Composer
Leslie Bricusse   Composer
James Van Heusen   Composer
Daniel Jackson   Composer,Composer
Hoagy Carmichael   Composer
Anthony Newley   Composer
Kamau Kenyatta   Arranger,Producer,Recording Arranger
Johnny Burke   Composer
Opolopo   Remix Engineer
Gregory Porter   Arranger,Composer,Recording Arranger
Tyler McDiarmid   Mixing,Engineer,Mastering Engineer
Kaitlin Doorley   Design,Art Direction
Jim Lafferty   Photography
Siddhartha Mitter   Liner Notes