Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Venue: Cankarjev dom – Gallusova dvorana
Concert date: May 23, 2017
Attendance: 1500
Ticket price: €26.00 / €33.00 / €37.00 / €44.00
Three years have passed since the night Gregory Porter got the crowd on their feet at Križanke in Ljubljana as part of the 55th Jazz Festival. Expecting the same kind of excitement for the return visit was a no-brainer. This time around, Porter could hardly have picked a more perfect hall for his show. Gallusova dvorana at Cankarjev dom turned out to be exactly the right choice.
The American jazz baritone can already admire two Grammys on his shelf at home. The first came in the “Best jazz vocal album” category for his 2014 record “Liqiud Spirit”, and he took the next one in the same category for “Take Me To The Alley”, released in 2016 and still his current album.
Porter arrived in Ljubljana after a gig in Belgrade that Serbian music media called outstanding, which was a promising sign for the Ljubljana show, kicking off in Gallusova dvorana a few minutes after 8:00 PM. The five-piece backing band (piano, sax, drums, bass and Hammond organ) opened things up, and then Gregory Porter walked out to thunderous applause. After just the first song it was crystal clear why he’s so highly regarded in the jazz world and why the Grammys came knocking. The show was pure ecstasy of perfection, the kind every jazz fan should get to experience at least once in their life. His flawless voice doesn’t go for extreme heights, instead staying within the frame of its powerful octaves, which Porter spices up with constant improvisation. He’s backed by an excellent band that Porter lets show off with solos throughout the night, and I honestly can’t find a single thing to criticize about any of them. I love watching a show where the musicians don’t stick to their songs note for note as they were recorded on the albums. With the constant improvisation Porter and the band are known for, they kept us on the edge of anticipation all evening, and our ears were literally fed a balm of tension and expectation. With their perfect chemistry, they made for a perfect night. It’s rare, after all, for any hall in Slovenia to fall into complete silence, waiting to see what the musician will serve up next.
The two-hour show in a sold-out Gallusova dvorana skipped any needless chatter between songs and delivered hits from all four of Porter’s records. As expected, most of the songs came from the award-winning “Liquid spirit” and the current “Take me to the alley”. A blend of classic jazz and soul, with moments of fusion jazz during the band’s solos, delivered exactly what was expected. Porter has already stepped well out of the jazz frame and into mainstream territory, but with this level of quality there’s nothing to comment on, let alone complain about. With his famous hat, he’s practically made himself a trademark in the jazz world. Mixing a massive, commanding voice with the confessional nature of his songs, he knows how to create a wonderful concert atmosphere. As expected, the high point of the night was his best-known song, “Hey Laura”, which you could tell from the roar of the crowd’s applause.
The show wrapped up after two hours, and there wasn’t a bad word to be heard. Porter is without a doubt one of the biggest future stars of jazz. With albums and shows getting better and better, there’s no fear that his uncompromisingly high-quality voice and the warm sincerity of his lyrics won’t put him alongside the greats over the years. After the show he dedicated himself to his fans, signing records in the Cankarjev dom foyer, where his albums were on sale. His visit definitely left the audience with a strong wish to see him back on our stages, and I hope it happens more often.
text, photos and video: Klemen Udovč
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