Description
Gregory Porter – Still Rising – Vinyl Record
Still Rising by Gregory Porter is a heartfelt and expansive collection that celebrates the remarkable career, emotional depth, and genre-crossing artistry of one of contemporary music’s most beloved vocalists. Released in 2023, the album combines jazz, soul, gospel, rhythm and blues, orchestral pop, and singer-songwriter traditions into a richly emotional listening experience that reflects Porter’s signature warmth, spiritual sincerity, and timeless vocal style. Rather than functioning solely as a traditional studio album, Still Rising serves as both a retrospective and an artistic statement, featuring new songs, reimagined recordings, collaborations, and selections that highlight the evolution of Gregory Porter’s music and message.
Known for his rich baritone voice and deeply human storytelling, Gregory Porter has become one of the defining modern interpreters of jazz and soul music, blending classic traditions with contemporary emotional accessibility. On Still Rising, Porter revisits themes that have shaped his work throughout his career, including love, compassion, resilience, spirituality, social understanding, hope, healing, and personal reflection. The album’s title reflects not only artistic longevity but also emotional perseverance and continued creative growth.
Musically, the album moves fluidly between intimate jazz ballads, soulful orchestral arrangements, uplifting gospel-inspired performances, and groove-oriented rhythm and blues. Porter’s voice remains the emotional center of every track, delivering lyrics with warmth, dignity, and conversational intimacy. The arrangements feature elegant piano work, lush strings, subtle brass sections, gospel harmonies, and refined jazz instrumentation that complement his expressive vocal phrasing without overpowering it.
One of the album’s defining strengths is its balance between timeless classicism and contemporary production. Porter draws from the legacy of traditional jazz vocalists and soul singers while maintaining a modern emotional openness that resonates strongly with contemporary audiences. The record highlights his ability to communicate universal human emotions through sincerity rather than theatrical excess, making his performances feel deeply personal and emotionally authentic.
Critics praised Still Rising for its emotional richness, vocal excellence, and thoughtful curation of material spanning different phases of Porter’s career. Many reviewers noted how the album reinforces his position as one of the most important modern jazz and soul vocalists, capable of bridging genres and generations through music rooted in empathy and emotional honesty. The album also introduced newer listeners to the breadth of Porter’s artistry while rewarding longtime fans with fresh interpretations and previously unreleased material.
Listeners who appreciate artists such as Nat King Cole, Donny Hathaway, Bill Withers, José James, and Kurt Elling often connect deeply with Still Rising because of its blend of jazz sophistication, soulful warmth, spiritual depth, and emotionally resonant storytelling.
Still Rising stands as both a celebration of Gregory Porter’s artistic journey and a reaffirmation of his enduring voice within contemporary jazz and soul music. Its combination of timeless musicianship, uplifting emotional themes, and beautifully expressive performances continues to resonate with listeners seeking music grounded in humanity, compassion, and emotional truth.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
I Will
Real Good Hands
My Babe
It’s Probably Me (Live At Polar Music Prize, Stockholm / 2017)
No Love Dying (2021 “Still Rising” Version)
Bad Girl Love
Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?
