Gregory Porter at the Royal Albert Hall
Gregory Porter has been a key figure on the jazz circuit since his debut album Water in 2010, which was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the Grammys. He has since won that award twice for 2013’s Liquid Spirit and 2016’s Take Me to the Alley. He has spoken fondly of his time in the UK and now embarks on a four-show run at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, a venue perfectly matched to his smooth-as-silk vocals and electric band.
Porter graced the stage in a classy white suit with a blistering rendition of Revival from his 2020 album, All Rise, one of the more energetic numbers in his repertoire, drawing on more of a soul sound. It was an excellent way to kick off the night. All Rise made up the first portion of the set, with the more stripped-back If Love Is Overrated following, accompanied by strings on the record, but here the organ did much of the heavy lifting; it was hard to notice, such was the strength of his vocals and prowess of his band. While Porter is known for his voice, it is remarkable how effortlessly he can slip from something as lively and powerful as Revival to the swoon of some of his other work.
Many of the songs had a jam-like quality, stretched far beyond their original lengths to allow both Porter and his band maximum room to reinterpret and add new flourishes. This is especially true of Musical Genocide, a standout number on Liquid Spirit, which here interpolated parts of The Temptations’ My Girl and Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone. While Porter was the main attraction, the evening felt like a celebration of his entire band, with much of Musical Genocide simply Porter and the double bass. Mr Holland, meanwhile, began slowly with the piano before bringing in the full band.
Liquid Spirit and Hey Laura, two of Porter’s most recognisable tracks, got a strong reaction from the audience, held in the palm of his hand throughout the one hour and 45 minutes he was on stage. Extended versions, maybe, but still capable of wowing audiences for close to ten minutes. Between tracks, Porter shared lively anecdotes and kept the 5,000-plus crowd in good humour, walking off to a rousing standing ovation.
While he may only have played ten tracks with lengthy versions, there was never a sense of boredom with Porter’s luscious voice and his hugely talented band delivering some unexpected takes on some of his best-loved work. It was a jazz and soul masterclass from one of the finest voices on the scene, a perfect advert for his live setup.
Christopher Connor
Photos: Miguel de Melo
For further information and future events, visit Gregory Porter’s website here.
Watch the video for the single Liquid Spirit here:
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