2013 · Album
Liquid Spirit
Recorded 2013 · Blue Note Records · Produced by Kamau Kenyatta
Porter Finally Gets the Spotlight He Deserved
Liquid Spirit is the album that proved Gregory Porter wasn't a niche taste — he was the real thing.
By 2013, Gregory Porter had already put out two well-regarded albums, but Liquid Spirit (2013) is where things clicked into place in a way that casual listeners could actually feel. Released on Blue Note Records, it has the warm, unhurried quality of a Sunday afternoon—Porter's baritone is big and enveloping, and the arrangements give it room to breathe without getting sleepy. This isn't fusion or experimentation. It's straight-ahead jazz vocal music done with real conviction, and that's exactly what makes it work.
The title track is the obvious entry point, and it earns its reputation. Porter sounds completely at home—assertive without being showy, soulful without leaning on gospel clichés. But the album is just as effective when it turns inward. "Hey Laura" reveals a more intimate, understated side of his songwriting, while "Wolfcry" strips things back emotionally, allowing his voice to carry the weight of the song without unnecessary embellishment. The album also pulls in subtle soul and pop influences without losing its jazz footing, which is a genuinely difficult balance to achieve. Six singles were released from the album, an unusually high number for a jazz record and a reflection of just how accessible and memorable its material proved to be.
The Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2014 brought Porter to a much wider audience, and it's hard to argue the award was undeserved. Some Grammy wins feel like consolation prizes or lifetime achievement gestures. This one felt like the committee actually listened to the record. If you're new to Porter, this is where to start. If you've been following him since the beginning, this is the album where everything he'd been building toward finally came together.
Who's playing
Aaron Jamesbass
Chip Crawfordpiano
佐藤洋祐alto saxophone
Tivon Pennicotttenor saxophone
Curtis Taylortrumpet
Glenn PatschaHammond organ
Emanuel Harrolddrums
