Just in time for Christmas, Blue Note releases a stocking stuffer of Greg Porter that sounds like one of those classic variety shows of the 1950s and 60s, which is fitting, since Porter seems to be the next Nat “King” Cole (who had one of those shows). Here, you have a bit of old favorites in some of Porter’s biggest hits with “Hey Laura” and “Liquid Spirit.” There are a handful of brand new pieces, with the highlight being an Old Testament prophecy of soul on “Dry Bones” and rich heart on sleeves for “I Will” and Love Runs Deeper”. He also revisits and re arranges “Real Good Hands” and “No Love Dying”, but for the “really big shew” (as Ed Sullivan used to say), there are some time travelling duets with the likes of Buddy Holly on “Raining In My Heart”, Ella Fitzgerald for “Peole Will Say We’re In Love” , Julie Londong during “Fly Me To The Moon” and a meeting of the minds with Nat Cole himself for “The Girl From Ipanema. Some are with the London Symphony Orchestra, and all sound absolutely wondrous.
The living people match up with Porter just as well, with ringers like Renee Fleming (“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”) fitting in well with Lala Hathaway (“Insanith” and Jamie Cullum (Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”). All that’s missing is Topo Gigo!
If you’re a Porter fan, as I am, you’ll eat it up. Will it bring in new converts? Who needs to be converted?