Gregory Porter - Be Good (2012) {Motema}
EAC 1.0b3 | FLAC tracks level 8 | Cue+Log+M3U | Scans 300dpi | 353MB + 5% Recovery
MP3 CBR 320 Kbps | 144MB + 5% Recovery
Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz
EAC 1.0b3 | FLAC tracks level 8 | Cue+Log+M3U | Scans 300dpi | 353MB + 5% Recovery
MP3 CBR 320 Kbps | 144MB + 5% Recovery
Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz
Gregory Porter's sophomore effort confirms the talent that was so apparent on his debut. He's developed greater technique and subtlety in his impressive singing. The '70s soul is still quite apparent in his voice, with shades of Donny Hathaway and Bill Withers, but he's also the vocal heir to Nat King Cole. He's becoming a major talent, not just as a singer but also as a composer, with a unique, elliptical style, both for melodies and lyrics, which is quite evident when held up against the covers here. Porter is also acutely aware of dynamics, able to move smoothly from the softness of "Imitation of Life" to the almost atonality of the raucous "Bling Bling," which also features some excellent scat singing. His own material isn't immediately memorable, but insinuates itself into the brain after a few hearings, sophisticated and often beautiful.