Description
Masterful singer Gregory Porter delivers his first album of original songs for four years with this rich collection, striking a balance between wistful reflection and social awareness that hits the mood of 2020.
Porter’s rich and distinctive baritone voice is a huge asset; immediately recognisable, full of character and power and yet capable (as on the delightful waltzing Merry Go Round here) of lightness and subtlety. He can crank up the intensity without sounding forced or strained – the dramatic Long List Of Troubles see’s Porter running wild over Ondrej Pivec’s stylish Hammond organ. Revival Song, the first single to be released from the album, is a masterclass in soulful expression in a Work Song vein with a top-class choir backing up Porter’s calls for renewal.
In all the rich variety of music, it is easy to overlook the fact that Porter not only performs these songs with passion, variety and skill, but he has also written (or in just one case, Revival Song, co-written) them all. Porter has taken care to surround himself with excellent musicians for this album, with musical director Troy Miller playing a best-supporting role as arranger, producer, sometime drummer, pianist and even occasional marimba. The tone is inspiring, the spirit is liquid, the musicianship outstanding and the voice is… well, …. All rise!
