August summer heat is usually a great time for a cool drank, some soothing tunes, and good conversation on the porch. Vystar Amphitheater was the extension of that porch Sunday night as Grammy Award-winning baritone Gregory Porter serenaded a full house with a treasure trove of hits generously coated in love.
The former San Diego State University football signee is a true renaissance man in the size, shape, and talent of another legendary baritone, Paul Robeson. Porter and Robeson (dec.) are listed at 6’3”, 200+ lbs., and played defense. A shoulder injury in his freshman season nixed Porter’s chances of testing the pro football ranks, but that is all. Porter leaned into his mother’s advice and put his considerable vocal gifts to the forefront. Advice music lovers are glad he accepted.
The Bakersfield native has used his talents during COVID to explore a wide range of interests, including a podcast, The Hang, and a cooking show, The Porterhouse with Gregory Porter. The multifaceted singer explained his connection with cooking as home and a place where he could share his favorite recipes passed on to him by his mother.
Multifaceted must have been a theme for the show lineup. Saxophonist Marion Meadows is quite an accomplished photographer, fine artist, and semi-professional cyclist. View his photography at Marion Meadows Photography and his fine art at Marion Meadows Atmospheres. The musical artist Meadows opened the night with selections from his 17 albums.
The trend continued as Philadelphia’s favorite couple, Kindred The Family Soul, took the stage. When it’s said that something is in the water, they must be talking about Philly music. The city was the training grounds for superstars Patti LaBelle, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Rachelle Ferrell, Jill Scott, and super song writer/producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff (Philly Sound). For most in the 55-and-over demographic, Philly music is part of their life’s soundtrack.
Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon were groundbreakers in the late 90s -early 2000s as part of the Neo-Soul movement that featured other well-known artists like Floetry, Musiq Soulchild, and Jaguar Wright.
Seven albums and six children later, the duo continues to record and perform live as Kindred the Family Soul. If the rest of their soon-to-be-released eighth project, “Grand Life,” sounds anything like their previous music and new single “I Need You”, get the candles and rose petals ready. Preorders are available on the Kindred The Family Soul website.
The VyStar audience was in step with every note and melody while waving hand fans to stay cool to the beat. By the time the duo finished their set, so had the sun. Saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, percussionist Emanuel Harrold, bassist Jahmal Nichols, organist Ondřej Pivec, and pianist Chip Crawford introduced the night’s headliner. Porter took the stage in his trademark hat, cravat or neckerchief, white linen jacket, white shirt, coral pocket square, and wide-legged relaxed pastel mint linen pants.
His walk to the microphone was measured, but what came out once he got there was pure bliss. Porter described the music he selected as a journey in love. Several things stood out during the performance. The first being that every member of the band is amazingly talented. And the second, how lucky the people were to be in the presence of such excellence. Pennicott delivered a couple of in-song solos that were outstanding. Each band member followed suit when it was their turn. And before the last bead of sweat rolled off their head, there was Porter delivering his smooth vocals.
Lineup: A+
Atmosphere: A+
Performances: A+