Liquid Spirit (Deluxe Version)

Gregory Porter’s feel for swing puts him squarely in a line of jazz polymaths engaged in dialogue with pop traditions, like R&B and gospel (think Nina Simone). His breakout album for Blue Note goes heavy on the singer’s original compositions; between the laidback meter of the first tune and the hard-grooving theme of the title cut, it’s clear that this vocalist/composer is a master of multiple moods. And his covers, like the Abbey Lincoln/Max Roach composition “Lonesome Lover", are well chosen.