NAT KING COLE & ME
| Gregory Porter
NAT KING COLE & ME
Nat King Cole & Me is the fifth studio album by American jazz musician and singer Gregory Porter. He sings songs that were either recorded by or inspired by Nat King Cole. It was released by Blue Note Records and Decca Records on October 27, 2017. Porter has cited Cole as an important part of his childhoold and an influence on his career. Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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NPR
2017 - He has the careful diction and clear projection of his hero, but also a voice that suits his big frame, resonant and boomy.
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All Music
Romantic, sophisticated, and rich with vocal prowess, Nat "King" Cole & Me lives up to both Cole and Porter's own immense creative reputations.
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Downbeat
2017 - In all, this is another fantastic contribution to the growing legend and discography of Gregory Porter.
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Pop Matters
2017 - With lush arrangements courtesy of Vince Mendoza, Gregory Porter shines on a tribute to one of his major influences Nat "King" Cole.
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Soul Tracks
If there is an artist alive who has the chops to carry the musical legacy of Nat King Cole, Gregory Porter is the one. And on Nat King Cole and Me Porter shows that whether the arrangement calls for swelling bombast or subtle swing he has what it takes to pull it off. This is a beautiful tribute that also stands as a musical success on its own. Recommended.
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Jazz Times
2017 - far greater emphasis has been placed on his exceptional compositions, ranging from sage sociopolitical commentary to deeply personal tales of love, loss and spirituality
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The Sunday Times
2017 - On his first orchestral album the jazz singer insinuates himself among the strings and shows his sultry side
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Albumism
2017 - Every song for Porter seems to be an examination of his own unlimited musical talent. He seems to understand every song and internalizes them, which leads to an honest delivery. With his fifth studio album, Gregory Porter does Nat "King" Cole, as well as himself, proud with this incandescent tribute.
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Louder than War
2017 - It’s such a welcome reawakening of tender songs composed by a beautiful mind, sung for the 21st Century in a beautiful voice that is rich with life.
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High Res Audio
Gregory Porter, who has established himself as the jazz's biggest living crossover star, knows how to retell Nat King Coles songs instead of trying to imitate Cole’s way of singing.
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Exepose
Yet the smooth vocals aren’t the only beauty of this record. With Gregory Porter’s fifth album marking his first to be recorded with a full seventy-piece orchestra, under six-time Grammy-winning conductor Vince Mendoza, the richly layered brass, string and wind arrangements contribute to the absorbing atmosphere Porter strives to recreate in covering Nat King Cole’s classics.
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Junction 11
Gregory Porter, with the help of Vince Mendoza and the Hollywood Studio Symphony, has delivered a series of songs that are enjoyable and no doubt accessible to his large audience.
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NARC. Magazine
2017 - this heavily orchestral album, faithful to NKC’s original arrangements, will hopefully open a few young ears to the beauty of what music once was and inspire a new generation
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Culture Fly
2017 - Tackling a legacy this heavily gold-plated is no mean feat, and Porter pulls it off with flair and an obvious sense of love for the material.
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FOPP
2017 - Overall, the arrangements on Nat “King” Cole & Me are unashamedly retro and make no attempt to update Cole’s music for today. But Porter’s intentions are clearly good; he wanted to make a pure tribute to his idol, and, taken on his terms, it’s a stunner.
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Love London Love Culture
2017 - Gregory Porter’s latest album is filled with wonderful arrangements and rich vocals to make it an enjoyable album to listen to.
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Birmingham Live
2017 - these recordings are nothing short of fantastic
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Vulture Hound
2017 - An album of absolute pleasant pleasures
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Sussex Jazz Magazine
2017 - Porter’s warm vocals will likely keep you warm and cosy throughout the winter months.
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Black Grooves
2017 - With a rich and soulful sound, no one could do more justice to the memory and legacy of Nat King Cole than Gregory Porter.
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