Liquid Spirit

This is Gregory Porter's greatly anticipated third album and his first on Blue Note. For his first, "Water", he received a grammy nomination in the category of Best Jazz Vocal. His second offering, "Be Good" gained him a grammy nomination in the category of Best Traditional R&B. With his third, "Liquid Spirit" maybe he'll get nomination in two or three categories because even though he is known as a jazz singer, you cannot deny his strong roots in R&B, Blues & Gospel.Many people have compared him to the likes of Sam Cooke, Bill Withers, Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, Les McCann, Johnny Hartman and of course, Nat King Cole. Why do we search for a comparison? I can only think it's because the authenticity & intimacy in his voice and lyrics, makes us happy & comfortable and familiar only because it's like we are listening to an old friend...A friend we have known for many years....we know this guy...he is US.It has been said that jazz is a powerful, living, breathing art form that uplifts, connects and transforms us. In my opinion, that is just what he does. He can transform his sounds into something new, yet familiar. His lyrics communicate specific emotional, spiritual and intellectual life, with an approach of perfect pitch and all wrapped up with a whole bunch of soul.Some of the highlights for me are "No Love Dying" and "I Fall In Love Too Easily" beautifully telling us that mistakes in love may be where pain comes from but ultimately it is also the source of great joy. "Lonesome Lover" written by Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach, never got the play that it deserved and Porter keeps the song's integrity but makes it new and now, maybe it will be included in the Great American Songbook (where it belongs). "Musical Genocide" tells us how we cannot forget music's past. "The In Crowd" and "Movin'" take us back in time, kickin' it old school, and making us smile in contentment. "Liquid Spirit" is a hand clapping, goin' to church, testifying, rockin' song that if you don't feel good after hearing it, you better call the undertaker, because you must be dead! And most importantly, "When Love Was King", with lyrics that have a "Nature Boy" vibe but also for me, I thought of Ellington's "Is God A Three Letter Word For Love", in it's intent. Some critics might find it sappy but I found it to be a beautiful melody with a very poignant yet hopeful lyric.And like the good friend that we feel he is, he has kept his great personnel with him from his previous recordings. If it's working, don't mess up a good thing! And it's quite apparent that he shares a sibling like simpatico with collaborator & pianist, Chip Crawford, who adds so much to this album.The rest of the personnel are all standouts too. They are, Yosuke Sato, Alto Sax; Tivon Pennicott, Tenor Sax; Aaron James, Double Bass; Emanuel Harold, Drums.The only thing that could have made this even better is if it were a "live" performance because after all in jazz, it's the "for the moment" sets that jazz is all about.

Gregory Porter’s distinctive image in a balaclava and his velvet-wrapped-gravel voice arrests and transports us. Three covers are all impressive. Contracting with Blue Note might put him in “The ‘In’ Cloud.” Miles’ favorite, “I Fall In Love Too Easily” would be a great gift to us. Throughout his 12 originals he has much to say. Firm resolution to life is passed along from his songs. He abuses emptiness of pop-culture. He will not commit nor will not submit to “Musical Genocide.” “When Love Is King” is gently allegorical. Are we just pushing time? Or is time pushing us? “Time Is Ticking.” He rings an alarm, it’s not to late. To be free. Get be free. He recalls of his parents in “Free.” His father paved a road so his burden is lighter, while his mother was dropping love just like rain. She said guard his heart for from it come the issues of life. The people are thirsty ‘cause of man’s unnatural hands. He peps us up by singing let the “Liquid Spirit” free.He sings undulating feelings of hope, as there will be “No Love Dying” there for him. Facing death of love being everywhere, he swears he won’t let it be. He cries his lover left it all with him in “Wolfcry.” When he saved her is the start of his agony. She gained her strength, left her innocence and vulnerability with him. He explores more desperate heart ache in “Hey Laura.” Something bothering makes him to ring her doorbell so late. When she’s “Moving” in the wrong direction. He wished his Momma was there. She would know, what to do, what to say, how to pray to make things better. Why didn’t he know that she was an essential part of him? He depicts wistfully dejected mind in “Brown Grass.” Memories so strong, it keeps him from moving on. In “Water Under Bridge,” some one told him to get over it. “Wind Song” tells durability of love as he loves her still and always will. If his song repeats, know that he’s stuck on her. His songs put us inside the music. His longtime working band support him marvelously.

I became familiar with Gregory Porter listening to wbgo FM the jazz station and I am very glad that I ordered the CD and will be ordering more CDs by Gregory Porter in the future. I am grateful that I was able to find this CD to order.

I was introduced to this young man last month, after 3 bars, I booked a ticket to see him "live" at the Ferst Center At Ga. Tech. What a phenomenal artist. He took me to church with "Liquid Spirit", jumping and patting. He made me cry with "No Love Dying Here" and "Be Good"! The musicians were nothing short of miraculous, all of them touched by God. As an vocal artist myself, you have to know the spirit to recognize the spirit...he is truly connected to the Master! His original flow left me hungering for more with each song! I wanted to wrap him up and take him home, he reminded me of my "hommies" that love to jam, just using our natural talent to glorify God. I ran to Amazon to order my copies of his last two CD's. So grateful to have something to listen to that I don't have to pick and choose the songs...I just plug it in and play!Thank you Gregory, I listened to your testimony and you inspired me to continue to be original in a synthetic world of music. Pure vocal and instrumental talent, so rare, but SO FINE! Keep blessing us with your originality. You will go down in history with the likes of Nat King Cole and the rest. I turned my teenagers on to real jazz. You moved my daughters, they said you would have been my husband in another life:) Your wife and family should treasure every moment God grants you in this life. You are a precious gift from on high!