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Gregory Porter was born in Los Angeles and was raised in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. A 1989 graduate of Highland High School, his path was originally leading to a career in sports after Porter gained an athletic scholarship to San Diego State University. However after incurring a shoulder injury during his junior year of high school, his football career was not to be.
Porter instead began recording music influenced by his adoration for blues, soul and gospel. His debut album 'Water' was released in 2010 via Motéma Music and gained the singer/songwriter a nomination for Best Jazz Vocal album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. During this time Porter was performing as part of the original Broadway cast of 'It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues'. The second album 'Be Good' was released in 2012 and following his notoriety from critics, it achieved moderate chart success across Europe. Once again critics adored Porter's blues/jazz sound and he picked up his second Grammy nomination, this time for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the album's title track.
The third album 'Liquid Spirit' was released in 2013 after he signed a contract with Blue Note Records (Universal Music Group) and was produced by Brian Bacchus. It was a huge success worldwide, charting within the top 20 of the UK album charts, top 10 in Germany and The Netherlands and cracked the top 200 in the US. This album went on to win Gregory his first Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album supporting the theory 'third time lucky'.
As the daughter of soul singer Donny Hathaway, Lalah was destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps, through her versatile, dynamic and technically strong voice. She arrived on the music scene in 1990, with her self-titled debut album, impressing listeners right from the start. The release was a commercial success, gaining a top ten single with “Heaven Knows, which peaked at number three on the Billboard R&B charts, with the album itself peaking at number 191 on the Billboard Hot 200. This was followed by 1994’s “A Moment,” which again drew positive critical acclaim, with the album debuting at number 34 on the R&B charts.
After this initial success, Hathaway took a break from recording music, not returning until 1999, where she collaborated with legendary jazzman, Joe Sample for the GRP album, “The Song Lives On.” Into the new millennium, Hathaway released a steady stream of records, with 2004’s “Outrun the Sky” (Sanctuary Records), “Self Portrait” (2008, Stax) and “Where It All Begins” (2011, Stax). These releases continued to prompt praise from critics for Hathaway’s talent and diversity in her music, collaborating with the likes of Mike City, Rahsaan Patterson, Rex Rudest and Dre & Vidal. “Self Portrait” and “Where It All Begins” were Hathaway’s most successful releases, peaking at number 63 and number 32 respectively, in the Billboard Hot 200 Chart.
Widely regarded as on of the finest vocalists of her generation, Hathaway made the perfect choice for her collaboration with R&B/Soul outfit, Snarky Puppy. Working together on the song, “Something” in 2013, the partnership went on to secure Hathaway with her first Grammy Award, receiving the award for ‘Best R&B Performance’ at the 2014 awards.
I like jazz, particularly vocal jazz, but don't often get the chance to see it live. When Gregory Porter came to The Miller Center for the Arts in Reading, PA, reasonably close to where I live, some friends and I got together and decided to go see him live.
Gregory Porter has a fantastic, smooth voice, perfect for singing jazz music, and performs with a very large instrumental group so seeing him in concert is almost like seeing a symphony orchestra perform. His music is soulful, yet sedate, harmonic and relaxing.
He has, of course, the traditional jazz instrumentation like the piano, brass instruments and saxophone, but his addition of other instruments like flutes, guitars, violins and a variety of percussion give his music a fuller, more complex sound and at least for me, the vocals help to keep me engaged and punctuate the music so I notice the subtle differences in each verse, the voices of the different instruments rising up at different times throughout the song, all creating a wonderful performance well worth your time in going in person.
I would gladly take the opportunity to see Gregory Porter again in concert, and he is well deserving of the Grammy he won for best jazz vocal album.
Lalah Hathaway is a vocal beast! Even if you don't know her sings you need to experience her voice live.
I've seen her about 4 times at Jazz Café. You will sing along, you will laugh (she's very funny!), you will dream away to wherever she takes you.
Love me some Lalah!
Jamison Ross was a new name to me until I heard about this gig and checked him out. He's a drummer with a great voice and wide open vocal range. He fronted a four piece band with long standing friends guitarist Rick Lollar, bassist Barry Stephenson, organist Chris Pattishall. They played a mixture of songs from his self titled album ('I couldn't think of anything else to call it' he mused)
In fact he talked a lot between numbers which was interesting, and he evidenced a great respect for his musical ancestors including singing drummer Grady Tate. Influences ranged from Muddy Waters to Carmen Lundy
You got the sense that he wanted the audience to participate in the gig which they did more and more as Ross' warm personality shone along with his fine singing.
The second half of the gig showed the band's blues credentials with some fine guitar work and fast driving interplay between guitar and bass
The venue had changed from the Jazz Cafe - which is undergoing renovations - to Nells Jazz and Blues Club in Fulham around the corner from West Kensington tube. My first visit here too - and what a friendly welcome. They've already had a stack of stars since Van Morrisson kicked off the programme and there plenty more to come looking at the posters. I'll be back soon