Jennifer Porter – Sun Come and Shine Redux
Overton Music
https://jenniferportermusic.com/
10 tracks
This is a re-release of Jennifer Porter’s 2021 release showcasing her quite impressive vocals. Her style is contemporary/smooth jazz as her band backs the vocals that reach to the ether to deliver her remarkable sound. This is her tenth album and her background in jazz and classical are apparent.
Porter handles vocals, B3 and Fender Rhodes. Bernard Purdie is on drums, Willie Bascombe and Dan Boone handle bass duties, and George Naha is on guitar. Miho Nobuzane plays a variety of keyboards while backing vocals are the trio of Audrey Wheeler Downing, Layonne Holmes and Kim Davis. Rod Papparozzi is the harpist. The horn section is Steve Jankowski (brass) and Tom Timko (saxes). Some individual performances and noted below.
The title track opens the album. This is a lofty and light smooth jazz cut showcasing Porter’s vocal ability. Porter plays organ which fills out the sound. There is a little light yet rootsy harp which is probably the bluesiest thing on the album. “Next is “Show Me Your Love” where Porter again hits the keys. This is an airy and contemporary little jazz piece with more ethereal vocal by Porter. The airy trumpet adds to the nouveaux jazz feel.
“When It’s All Been Said and Done” is another silky and smooth number with Porter’s breathy vocals shining bright. More of the same follows with “Satin Shoes” except we get some horns added, keeping the feeling light.
“Stop Your Talkin’” is a bit jazzier with guitar and harp and a less light take on the music. Porter’s vocals pull the song back to the ethereal as the rest of the band lays out a little more funk. Then it’s “In and Out With You” where the band gets a groove going while Jennifer stays light and airy. The horns amp up a bit and the backing vocals are forthright, and then we get a ringing guitar solo.
“Bitter New York Night” is a light jazzy ballad with stratospheric vocals and the band keeps it light to maintain the feeling. Somber yet sensual. “You’re So Easy to Be With” features C.J. Chenier on accordion and Porter with the honky-tonk piano. It’s NOLA light, with Porter remaining airy and soft in her delivery.
“Something On Your Mind” is the lone cover song. The bass accompaniment is cool and the soprano sax adds to the soft jazz ambiance as Porter again vocally excels. The CD ends with the country styled rootsy-ness of “I’ll Be Here.” More smooth jazziness but with a country flair. Here we have Cindy Cashdollar on pedal steel and Angelo “Buddy” Saviso on fretless bass.
The album is not a blues album. There ore two, maybe three hints at bluesy-ness, but the songs and deliveries remain centered in modern day new-age jazz. If you want to hear an outstanding vocalist whose ambient, and even space styled jazz vocals (similar to what one would hear weeknights on NPR Radio’s Echoes hosted by John Diliberto) are truly amazing, then this album is for you.
