Gregory Porter

Nat “King” Cole & Me

(Decca/Blue Note)

    Recorded in London with a 70-piece orchestra and arrangements by Vince Mendoza, this album features some of Nat ‘King’ Cole’s most famous hits such as Mona Lisa, Smile, Nature Boy and Porter’s latest single Quizas, Quizas, Quizas. All the tracks are a radio-friendly 4 minutes or less with ‘the odd one out’ being a seven minute version of When Love Was King, a Cole-style arrangement of Porter’s original from his 2013 album Liquid Spirit.

    Porter cites Cole as being one of the three big influences in his life, after his mother and gospel music and this is obvious from Porter’s own back catalogue.

    Porter’s warm vocals will likely keep you warm and cosy throughout the winter months.

    The addition of The Christmas Song as a bonus track should make this a stocking filler for fans of both Porter and Cole alike.

    Gregory Porter tours the UK next April, with the London dates being with full orchestral accompaniment.

Charlie Anderson