GREGORY PORTER LIVE AT THE MESA ART CENTER THE # 1 VENUE FOR JAZZ IN ARIZONA

GREGORY PORTER  LIVE AT THE  MESA ART  CENTER THE # 1 VENUE  FOR JAZZ IN ARIZONA

I had no idea what to expect as we drove the 45 minute drove to one of Arizona’s
premier live performance facilities in beautiful downtown Mesa, Arizona. The Mesa Arts Center hosts a gamut of live events and caters to its neighbors as well as to the public at large. Doc Jones, the Publisher of this magazine posed a question to me, “Do U know who Gregory Porter is?” Although I had heard smatterings of a couple of Mr. Porter’s latest album currently being regularly aired, I had no idea what to expect at the concert. Doc Jones, simply put, is a lover of music; all music. Given his extensive background in various music genres, one might become confused on listening to him master an Irish Jig, however, his first love is definitely Jazz. Doc Jones is thoroughly entrenched in, has performed and taught Jazz music for decades, although he would be the first to say “I’m a lover of all Music.” Armed with that knowledge, i replied “No but is he like that guy who was just singing. He promptly asked that I Google Gregory Porter. To my surprise upon my search, not only was his photo unexpected, but his vocals were even less expected. Wow, he could really sing! I had no idea what to expect as we drove the 45 minute drove to one of Arizona’s premier live performance facilities in beautiful downtown Mesa, Arizona. The Mesa Arts Center hosts a gamut of live events and caters to its neighbors as well as to the public at large. Doc, the Publisher of this magazine posed a question to me, “Do U know who Gregory Porter is?” Although I had heard smatterings of a couple of Mr. Porter’s latest album currently being regularly aired, I had no idea what to expect at the concert. Doc, simply put, is a lover of music; all music. Given his extensive background in various music genres, one might become confused on listening to him master an Irish Jig, however, his first love is definitely Jazz. Doc Jones is thoroughly entrenched in, has performed and taught Jazz music for decades, although he would be the first to say “I’m a lover of all Music.” Armed w/ that knowledge, i replied “No but is he like that guy who was just singing. He promptly asked that I Google Gregory Porter. To my surprise upon my search, not only was his photo unexpected, but his vocals were even less expected. Wow, he could really sing It would seem natural, given Young Gregory’s stature that he’d become involved in sports. His American college full ride football career was cut short his Junior year by a shoulder injury. That
injury prompted his mother’s deathbed encouragement that he should stick with music. Nothing like a Mother’s loving advice; millions of music lovers have enjoyed that advice since then. Though Gregory was led to sing early on, as young as five years old by his mother. Even taken by her to perform on the streets with a small self-contain PA box. The PA system may have been contained, but there is no containing or labeling his artistry as he flows between and in and out of varying music genres to include Jazz, Blues, Soul and Gospel. This evening at the beautiful Mesa Arts Center, the audience experienced the full spectrum @of Mr. Porter’s vocal acrobatics. About his once budding career, Porter once said, “In this business as a singer it’s feast or famine. You got to hit it while its hot. Needless to say as supported by his receiving a Grammy and sales of his latest hit CD Nat “King” Cole & Me, Gregory Porter is Hot!!