Well, what can I say? Sage Gateshead was three tiers full. A sure indication that they've got it right! Gregory Porter is quite an amazing performer and to pull such a following is something else. And they all loved him!
As well they should.
The big man in the funny hat gave an assured performance and, if I hadn't heard him earlier this year at Hoochie, this would have probably been a rave review. But, how can you compare the intimate setting of a 250 max bar where, if you got there early enough, you could almost shake hands with the star, with row BB in a 1,640 auditorium where the big man (and he is a big man) was but a distant object?!
The program was near enough the same as at HC, the band likewise, and Yosuke Sato remains one of the best alto sax players I've heard this (or any) year but, unlike the adoring masses around me, it didn't quite connect with me ...if only I hadn't been to Hoochie in March...
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Nina Ferro (vcl); Grant Windsor (pno/vcl)..
When I see those dreaded words "Plus Support" I groan and hope my seat is close enough to an exit to enable me to escape and "support" the bar. However, when the support act turned out to be Nina Ferro all thoughts of another glass of Pinot Grigio vanished (my bank manager will be pleased to know!) and I remained firmly glued to my seat.
I first heard Nina Ferro back in 2009 at the Spice of Life down in Soho - a venue even smaller than Hoochie - and although I hadn't heard her since I knew she was still very active on the London scene.
How would she fare in Sage Gateshead's Hall One with only a pianist in support?
I say "only" but when that "only" is Grant Windsor the only becomes totally superfluous! I've heard the Aussie pianist several times with Clare Teal (by coincidence, the lady sitting next to me, Megan, was also from Down Under) and with Grant at the Steinway it was second only to Nina having the Northern Sinfonia in her corner.
Nina's set included several numbers from her latest CD (soon to be reviewed here) as well as Up On The Roof (Drifters?) and set the scene for the "Big Picture".
Lance.
5 comments :
well Lance, I read in today's Readers' letters in our local newspaper that, having played York Barbican on Tuesday Gregory said that we had "fantastic acoustics " here. Maybe that helped....
Nothing wrong with the acoustics at Sage Gateshead as well you know and Gregory Porter does have a great voice. The point I was trying to make was the contrast between having heard him singing in "your front room" and hearing him in a concert hall!
Fine singer she maybe but having Nina Ferro as a support act for Gregory Porter was akin to having Cliff Richard support the Sex Pistols. I left half way through a set to secure a pint of Wylam which at £4.95 was a bargain given the circumstances.
As for the great man himself I can only imagine how much better he must have been at the intimate Hoochie my enjoyment wasn’t helped by the giant of man sat in front who produced a total eclipse of the stage. As for the band as I was largely unimpressed Sato’s solo’s being more cheesy than a box of overripe Camembert. Clearly I was in the minority as the X Factor sized crowd seemed to love every minute of the show but I personally thought Mr Porter failed to carry this one off.
Steve, in the unlikely event of me ever having been at a Sex Pistols gig I'd have welcomed having Cliff Richards on the bill!
As regards the alto player all I can say is "Pass me the cheeseboard I rather like Camembert!"
The alto sax playing was technically brilliant, I thought, but some of the arpeggiated solos were a bit "samey". I did love the brief exposure to soprano sax during one of the quieter numbers though.
Geoffrey was, well, "The Man"!
As regards the support act. I think Nina Ferro was an excellent choice and complemented the main man perfectly. GP may have considerable jazz influences, but is certainly not "just" a jazz artist, soul being the other main contender I would have thought.
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