Grammy Award-winning soul and jazz singer, songwriter and vocalist Gregory Porter is performing Nov. 1 at the Charleston Gaillard Center, a show that marks an auspicious occasion.
That’s when the revamped Gaillard will celebrate its 10th anniversary, and there will be a black-tie gala to mark that milestone at 5 p.m., before Porter takes the stage at 8:30 p.m.
“I’m proud to be there both for the performance and for the 10th anniversary,” the Sacramento-born Porter said in a recent interview with the Charleston City Paper. “I think performing in a venue with great history is interesting and, in a way, you’re defining the space by your performance.”
And thanks to Gregory Porter, that elegance will flow right from the gala to the stage, making him a perfect choice for this special night. For the show, Porter will perform songs from his 15-year career backed by the Charleston Symphony.
Since releasing his debut album, Water, back in 2010, Porter has been a leading light of what’s known as “sophisticated soul,” a style that blends gospel, jazz and blues into an R&B framework.
His voice is a technical marvel, but he’s a remarkably disciplined singer who can simmer and shout as the song requires.
For example, on his hit single “Liquid Spirit,” he mixes a fiery gospel allegory with a sparse, jazzy arrangement fueled by upright bass. “Hey Laura” is a molasses-slow ballad that allows Porter to pour emotion into a heartbreaking plea for one last chance.
And there’s even an example of how Porter’s rich voice sounds splashed against an epic orchestral backing, thanks to his gorgeous version of Nat King Cole’s “Smile” from 2017.
A musician’s dream
Porter said he typically plays with a small and agile backing band, but since 2018, he’s periodically worked in small runs of shows with full orchestras.
“I like the ability to have a larger musical expression in support of the voices,” said Porter, 53. “That’s something special for any vocalist. I remember hearing that it was a dream of Billie Holliday’s to perform with an orchestra, and I think it’s a dream really for most singers. So, it was an easy thing for me to do.”
As for what Porter will perform with the Charleston Symphony, he said it’s a surprisingly collaborative process. Rather than bringing a standard set list, Porter prefers working with the individual orchestra to create the program.
“The shows are just a cross-section of my musical journey, and it’s quite frankly a collaboration with myself and the director of the orchestra,” he said. “What messages do we want to get across? I sing the songs that I think the audience might need for that particular night.”
If you look back at some of Porter’s past shows with symphonies, it’s clear he adjusts his program constantly.
The shows reliably feature Porter’s best known songs like “Liquid Spirit,” “No Love Dying” and “Take Me To The Alley,” but he’s also paid tribute to Leonard Cohen with covers of “Hallelujah” and “Suzanne,” taken on The Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” and thrown in a Sting cover (“It’s Probably Me”) for good measure.
As much as Porter seems to enjoy symphony shows, he doesn’t do a lot of them. After the Gaillard performance on Nov. 1, his next shows aren’t until 2026. Porter told us that’s intentional on his part.
“My main goal is to work with my band,” he said. “Working with orchestras is something special, both in terms of the extraordinary musical sound and the scheduling. And the fact is that of the many ideas expressed in the orchestral setting, some of those developed within the small group.”
To hear Porter talk about the effect that his symphonic performances have on his audience, one doubts that he’ll ever be able to stop doing them completely.
“When the audience is comfortable with you, they’ll scream out just like it’s Thursday night church service,” he said. “I love that. I love the communication and the back and forth that happens with the audience at these shows.”
IF YOU WANT TO GO: Doors open at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 1, Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St., Charleston. Tickets range from $69-$175: gaillardcenter.org
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