"A HELLUVA PIANO PLAYER" (Jazz Times, Nov. 2007);
SEARCH "LEWIS PORTER" AT YOUTUBE FOR COMPLETE VIDEOS WITH BELA FLECK, DON BYRON, DAVID KING, JANE IRA BLOOM, BADAL ROY, VIC JURIS, etc.The critics have written in 2007 that Lewis Porter plays "with a lively glitter and amazing sense of assurance." "Mixing experimental with traditional," he "plays up a storm." "Porter is a deep thinker" whose music is "founded upon depth and cunning use of space"--"subsequent listens divulge previously unnoticed surprises." Lewis Porter is a jazz pianist and keyboardist (Yamaha Motif synthesizer, 76 keys). He is known for a free and open attitude, and an ability to contribute to any type of musical situation. When he works as a leader, his groups are known for swinging like mad and for a loose, open attitude to standard tunes and Porter's own originals.
Porter is available to perform with any of these formations:
solo piano and/or synthesizer
his current trio, featuring the hot new drummer Rudy Royston (working with Javon Jackson, Bill Frissell, and others)
a quartet adding to the trio a guest artist such as Jeff Coffin, the fantastic saxophonist from the Bela Fleck band
as a member of the new cooperative India-jazz fusion group which also features tabla master Badal Roy and guitar virtuoso Vic Juris
as a single artist, available to perform with your local jazz artists. For example, he has been delighted to perform recently with fine bassists and drummers in Boston, at the University of North Texas, in Siena (Italy), Leeds (UK), Finland (November 2007), etc.
Very often, Porter is invited to give a lecture, teach a class, or conduct a workshop or master class the same day as a performance, or the day before or after. He is a highly popular teacher and lecturer, noted for his liveliness, humor and vast encyclopedia knowledge. Virtually any topics are possible for these events--for examples, see the list of "Some Lectures and Workshops" below, or see past "Lew's News" at Lewisporter.com
To give an idea of his range, note that Porter has performed or will perform in 2007 with the following artists, among others:
Wycliffe Gordon (mainstream and standards)
Ravi Coltrane (very free treatments of standard tunes)
Joe Morris, Daniel Carter (free improvisations with no pre-set themes, keys, or chords)
Singer Judi Silvano (her original pieces, and some standards)
Dave Liebman (Coltrane tribute concert--pieces written by or associated with Coltrane)
Jeff Coffin, noted saxophonist from the Bela Fleck band (originals by Jeff, and standards)
Badal Roy and Vic Juris (improvisations based on Indian ragas/scales)
In the past, he has performed with Marc Ribot, George Garzone, Mark Dresser, Gerry Hemingway, Don Friedman, Alan Dawson, Joe Cohn, Gregg Bendian, etc., etc.Some reviews of Porter's latest CD :Midwest Record, May '07:
"…[A] sizzling trio date…Mixing experimental with traditional, these cats play up a
storm that any straight ahead jazzbo can dig. Hot stuff."Glenn Astarita, ejazznews.com, 2007:
"Simply stated, there’s a lot going on under the hood. …[T]hey occasionally venture into free terrain, while offsetting the mix with spunky bop motifs and multihued contrasts. …Porter delves into the Bill Evans School during his solo spot on the standard, “Body and Soul.†Ultimately, the trio’s somewhat meticulous and patiently rendered arrangements are founded upon depth and cunning use of space. It’s not simply “another jazz piano trio outing,†as subsequent listens divulge previously unnoticed surprises."Dr. Ana Isabel Ordonez, jazzreview.com, 2007:
"Anchored by a bold Italian rhythm section, famous New Jersey based pianist Lewis Porter renders this live recording in Siena, Italy with a lively glitter and amazing
sense of assurance. …The seven cuts on the album define an amazing music style which incorporates many elements of contemporary jazz. The music has a definite groove
with a mix of high energy and dexterity….Porter’s solo is remarkable on the standard "Body and Soul."..[T]here are some splendid musical excursions enhanced by sympathetic musicianship which deserves to be listened to."Yuki Ohmura, Swing Journal, July 2007:
"Porter is "a deep thinker"…his improvising style gives us a thrill by intriguing note choices.This kind of piano style is very uncommon in today's jazz piano scene and it is worth listening."
