Gregory Porter with his tribute to Nat King Cole at Umbria Jazz



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by Luana Pioppi
Gregory Porter with his homage to Nat King Cole at Umbria Jazz A final concert that will serve as a symbolic bridge between the 45th and the 46th edition of Umbria Jazz. This is how the last performance of this year was presented at the Santa Giuliana Arena. Great excitement to see the scene open fully to the elements of the Umbria Jazz Orchestra – a total of sixty musicians – led by Vince Mendoza, a true specialist of the subject (he has won five Grammy Awards )

It is Gregory Porter who presented his live "Nat King Cole & Me", in tribute to Nat King Cole (the fifth studio album) released a few months ago. A tribute felt and highly desired, because the great crooner was one of the first inspirations of Porter, accomplices of records that his mother made him listen to child. For the American singer (born in 1971 but already winner of two Grammy Awards), Nat King Cole is not only a musical influence, but also a kind of father figure.

The Perugia concert – the only date in Italy – is repeated the formula of the disc. Porter started with "Mona Lisa", the first song of the album, to then continue with other songs such as the clbadics "But Beautiful", "Nature Boy" and "Quizas, quizas, quizas" , who made the star of Nat King Cole, as well as a new version of "When Love Was King", which Porter had already included in his debut album. The album, consisting of 12 tracks (15 in the deluxe version), also contains other songs such as "The Christmas Song", "Smile", "LOVE" and "I wonder who is my father "

Porter return to Umbria Jazz is always a special event because the Umbrian festival was among the first to recognize the talent of the Californian singer. His debut in Umbria Jazz Winter # 20 as a resident artist for the entire event. Porter had been preceded by the appreciation of American critics who had called him the most sensational jazz singer, soul, blues emerged in recent years.

From the first album, Water, which was a resounding success, Gregory Porter won five nominations and two Grammy wins. Over the last five years, he has been to Perugia several times, once as a vocal guest of the Lincoln Jazz Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis. A powerful and melodious voice, his roots are firmly rooted in the best traditions of jazz and black music.

The orchestra he directed Mendoza is based on the core of young musicians who gave life to the Umbria Jazz Orchestra. and a chain section. In total, about sixty musicians on stage

The Umbria Jazz Orchestra has already provided excellent evidence by working in previous editions of the festival with Kurt Elling, Ryan Truesdell and Wayne Shorter. His next engagement will be the resumption of the Beatles songs arranged by Gil Goldstein, scheduled in Terni for Umbria Jazz Spring.

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