Review: Greg Phillips Photos: Jason Rosewarne
At Hamer Hall last night Jazz Festival artistic director Michael Tortoni was tasked with the formalities of welcoming us to country and acknowledging the festival partners before introducing to the stage ABC Jazz presenter Monica Trapaga, who told us that the night’s show would be broadcast to the world via ABC Radio. Trapaga then had the honour of welcoming Gregory’s incredible band to the stage; Chip Crawford (Piano/Fender Rhodes), Emanuel Harrold (Drums), Tivon Pennicott (Saxophone), Jahmal Nichols (Upright and Electric Bass) and Ondrej Pivec (Hammond Organ), then followed by the man himself.
Porter eased into the concert, displaying immense depth and warmth of voice on the soulful Painted on Canvas, occasionally offering a taste of the grand vocal heights he’d be reaching for the rest of the evening.
He told us that he and the band met at a small New York venue called St. Nick’s Pub, located in St.Nicholas Avenue in the Sugar Hill area of the Big Apple. “It was around the size of my dressing room,” he joked leading into a glorious version of On My Way to Harlem, which featured the extraordinary saxophone skills of Tivon Pennicott, as well as solo spots from various other band members, who jammed up a storm. “Some folks say, that Marvin Gaye, he used to play What’s Goin’ On, right over there, I swear,” Porter sung. “Hey brother, hey sister, tell me what’s goin’ on,” he mused in further acknowledgment of the late, great American music singer, who surely Porter must now be compared to. Both giants of not only the music world but also dedicated defenders of social justice. Case in point, he went on to explain that his music is about “mutual respect, treating people like you want to be treated,” then led into the beautiful Take Me To The Alley, a song about the hungry ones, the afflicted ones, the people in the city alleys.
Then urging us to clap our hands, the band launched into a funky Liquid Spirit, a song which has been remixed many times by some of the world’s most successful dance acts and DJs. This one shone a spotlight on drummer Emanuel Harrold. Some of these international jazz drummers never cease to amaze me with their innovative musicianship. A drum stick in his left hand, a mallet in the other as he sought to explore various absorbing drum tones. Throughout the night he mixed it up, one minute offering a complementary shuffle, the next delivering a machine-gun like paradiddle, his bag of percussive tricks was endless.
Hey Laura brought the vibe down a notch, a gorgeous ballad which delves into the themes of unreturned love, the need for affirmation, heartbreak, and self-deception, portraying a narrator trapped in the loop of clinging to a truth he knows is false.
The epic Concorde revealed Porter’s full vocal range from a rich, velvet timbre in the verse to soaring heights during the chorus, invigorated by Chip Crawford’s emotive piano playing and Ondrej Pivec’s supportive Hammond swirls.
The ever-smiling Jahmal Nichols then carried us away with an extended, sublime solo on the upright bass as Porter led the band into a stunning medley of Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone/Musical Genocide, which also included a casual Waltzing Matilda snippet from Crawford. “I will not commit, nor will I submit, To musical genocide. This is not for me, I won’t let it be. No, musical genocide” he sung, in a tune which asks what is music without soul?
No Love Dying once again highlighted the supreme instrumental mastery of the band, featuring a heartfelt sax solo from Tivon Pennicott’s, an epic Hammond run from Ondrej Pivec’s and of course the incomparable vocal stylings of Gregory Porter. The jazz great then implored the audience to sing “there will be no love dying here,” as he left the stage to the mass backing choir.
It was clear that the forecast 9pm finish was never going to happen as the deafening roar from the crowd prompted a return to the stage well beyond the curfew. Anyone who has seen the video of Porter singing It’s Probably Me, in front of Sting, the song’s composer at the 2017 Polar Music Prize in Sweden will know what a special performance that was. It was apt that such an incredible night of music at Hamer Hall should also end with that legendary song.
Once again we congratulate the Melbourne International Jazz Festival for bringing greatness to our town in the form of the incomparable Gregory Porter and his consummate band of musicians.
Gregory Porter’s band:
Chip Crawford – Piano/Fender Rhodes
Emanuel Harrold – Drums
Tivon Pennicott – Saxophone
Jahmal Nichols – Upright and Electric Bass
Ondrej Pivec – Hammond Organ
SET LIST
Painted on Canvas
On My Way To Harlem
Take Me To The Alley
Liquid Spirit
Hey Laura
Concorde
Bass Interlude
Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone
Musical Genocide/Waltzing Matilda
Wolfcry
No Love Dying
It’s Probably Me
You can hear the ABC Jazz broadcast of the show HERE
And check out our pre-tour interview with Gregory Porter HERE
