Gregory Porter: Liquid Spirit version on vinyl 2LP in Standard edition. This particular edition was published in Europe in publishing company Blue Note in cooperation with Universal Music Classics & Jazz France on 10. September 2014.

Not since Kurt Elling has there been a singer in jazz who started his career as brilliantly as Gregory Porter. With "Water" (2010) and "Be Good" (2012), his first two critically acclaimed albums for the independent Motéma Music label, Porter immediately established himself as one of the finest contemporary jazz singers. This is underscored by the two Grammy nominations he received for these albums. Now he presents his eagerly awaited third solo album, "Liquid Spirit" on the Blue Note label. Blue Note President Don Was encouraged the singer to stay true to his unique artistic vision in his new label. "I definitely consider myself a jazz singer, but I love blues, black southern soul and gospel no less," Porter defines himself. "These elements always find their way into my music. And I've always noticed them in jazz as well." For "Liquid Spirit," the singer once again leaned on the musicians who formed the core of his band on his previous two albums: pianist Chip Crawford, who is also musical director, drummer Emanuel Harrold, bassist Aaron James, alto saxophonist Yosuke Sato and tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott. On some tracks, Porter augmented the band with trumpeter Curtis Taylor and organist Glenn Patscha. The singer's old friends also include producer Brian Bacchus and arranger and co-producer Kamau Kenyatta. "I didn't say to myself, 'Okay, I'm at Blue Note Records now and I'm going to try to sound like Freddie Hubbard,'" Porter explains. I didn't have a specific plan for this album." He wanted the album to sound as organic as possible. And he was confident he could achieve that goal with a team that had been working together for years, rather than a band made up of stars. Porter has one of the most compelling and soulful baritone voices of our time. He can convey the emotion and spirit of any song possible without resorting to theatrical gimmicks. Critic Nate Chinen wrote in the New York Times: "Gregory Porter has most of what you want from a jazz singer, and maybe a few things you didn't even know you wanted." Porter's colleague, Kurt Elling, is also full of praise: "I am very confident about Gregory Porter's career. He sounds great and has a really great concept. I'm delighted that he's developing and that he's getting recognition and opportunities to spread his creative wings." Jazz diva Dee Dee Bridgewater praised Porter in JazzTimes magazine, "We haven't had a singer like this in a long time. He's an amazing songwriter. He just tells great stories." And she's right about that. Porter has a truly amazing gift for writing heartfelt songs based on personal experiences with an intimate and emotional directness. What's more, his catchy melodies are instantly engaging. On "Liquid Spirit," Porter explores similar themes to his debut album "Water": the songs deal with romantic ups and downs, his childhood and socio-political observations. In addition, he interprets three classics in his unmistakable way: the Motown hit "The 'In Crowd" by Dobie Gray, "Lonesome Lover" Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach, and the jazz standard "I Fall In Love Too Easily" by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. "I try to include something on every album from people who have influenced me deeply. 'Lonesome Lover' is my declaration of love to Abbey Lincoln," Porter reveals. Gregory Porter was born in 1971 in Bakersfield, Southern California, where he was introduced to gospel music at an early age thanks to his mother, who served in the church. Another major influence on his musical development was his mother's extensive collection of Nat King Cole recordings. Despite his love of music, Gregory, equipped with a football scholarship to San Diego State University, originally wanted to pursue a career in sports. However, a shoulder injury prematurely ended those plans. And so Porter - under the wing of his mentor Kamau Kenyatta - began to focus fully on music. When Kenyatta produced flutist Hubert Laws' 1998 album "Remembers The Unforgettable Nat King Cole" in Los Angeles, he invited Porter, an avid Nat King Cole fan, into the studio. Laws happened to hear him there singing the Charlie Chaplin classic "Smile" and was so excited that he spontaneously asked him to join the recording session. Another happy coincidence was that Hubert Law's sister Eloise also stopped by the studio at the time and saw Porter in action. The singer was to accept a role in the new musical It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues shortly thereafter and recommended producer Gregory Porter for the male lead. After the Broadway premiere, the New York Times described the then-unknown Porter as a "singing force." The show was nominated for four Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards that year. However, Gregory Porter's first album "Water", which was immediately nominated for a Grammy Award, had to wait a good ten years. His second album "Be Good", also nominated for a Grammy, was even more impressive in 2012. "Porter blends jazz and soul better than any of his contemporaries," said the American magazine Soul Tracks, naming "Be Good" potentially the best album of the year in January. Though Porter has since shared the stage or been in the recording studio with stars like Van Morrison, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Nicola Conte and David Murray, he hasn't lost his footing. "I haven't been able to process it all yet," he admits. "Especially having worked with musical icons like Wynton and Herbie. They welcomed me with open arms. I wouldn't have expected that in my wildest dreams two years ago." With the release of "Liquid Spirit," Gregory Porter should be on his way to a new career high.

Album spans genres Jazz and Soul-Jazz. 180g Vinyl.