Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Reviews

Gregory Porter Review

Nov 13, 2014
-
Posted by Steve Clements

This giant of a man, both in stature and talent, has already claimed Britain’s newest jazz festival, Love Supreme, as his own and has risen from playing for free in New York bars to touring the world’s finest concert halls including our own Brighton Dome, retaining the same quartet throughout.

Beginning with the mid-tempo beauty ‘Painted On Canvas’, the band were given space to solo and after a spot of Brighton banter came ‘On My Way To Harlem’, also from his second album, that felt like a breezy yellow cab ride around 125th Street. Names were checked while the sax soared and as Chip Crawford’s piano solo tapered off Porter came swooping in to finish with all his gospel soul roots blazing.

Drummer Emanuel Harrold’s delicate brush strokes allowed the purity of Porter’s voice to shine on the heart-melting ‘No Love Dying’, followed by Aaron James’s funky bass line on ‘Musical Genocide’, delivered in the style of the Max Roach/Gary Bartz black consciousness classics. A snappy, hand-clappy ‘Liquid Spirit’ was bookended by two gorgeous ballads that enthralled the crowd, after which a short spiritual was delivered off mic – a testament to his vocal prowess.

The oft-covered ‘Work Song’ is a gift for Porter and was given a new lease of life, with the band letting loose and Yosuke Sato delivering a dazzling circular breathing sax solo. A playful piano intro to ‘Wolfcry’ gave way to the leader’s painfully beautiful velvet vibrato on a duet that rightfully silenced the room.

‘1960 What?’, the song that started it all for this most endearing, modest man stands as a great civil rights anthem and deservedly received a standing ovation to close the show. Returning for a single encore, instead of a showstopper like ‘The In Crowd’, we were treated to the sublime ‘Be Good (Lion’s Song)’. This gentle waltz with it’s unusual lyric was a perfect end to an evening in the company of a man at the top of his game.

Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Weds 12th November 2014
Words by Steve Clements

Nov 13, 2014
Email
Steve Clements
Steve has been a SOURCE contributor since Summer 2010. Favourite quote - "There's no such thing as a sold out gig".
← PREVIOUS POST
Mogwai Review
NEXT POST →
Kate Tempest, Thurs 13th November
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Love Supreme Festival 2025 Review
    Jul 13, 2025

    Despite the poor weather, the performers, whether legends or newcomers, shone to ensure this year's festival ranked as one of the best yet.

  • Ghost Stories Review
    Jul 8, 2025

    A genuinely terrifying production, beautifully produced, stunningly acted and wonderfully directed. If you love a good psychological horror; don’t miss this.

  • Oral Habit Release Garage Frock! ep With a Family Store In-Store
    Jul 5, 2025

    Is this the best new band in Brighton? Team Source says "Hell Yeah!"

  • Get Ready For Some Summer Hi Jinx
    Jun 26, 2025

    New promotions team Hi Jinx are inviting you for beer and free live music beside the seaside. What's not to like?

  • Big Long Sun Launch Album No 2!
    Jun 25, 2025

    With two slamming singles the new Big Long Sun album should be the soundtrack to late night summer parties across the land.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 4 Review
    Jun 13, 2025

    Day 4 started with a party whistle thrash punk Extravaganza and ended with the glorious debut of Post Common. We love you TGE.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 3 Review
    Jun 9, 2025

    One of the real joys of the Great Escape is you can often see the bands that really grab you more than once. Day 3 delivered.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 2 Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    Day 2 provided a diverse range of acts. Within 30 minutes we went from beautiful Australian folk to riotous Korean DnB and that was before tea time!

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Gregory Porter Review - Brighton Source