Be Good

Though he hadn’t yet made the move to Blue Note, this jazz singer and composer’s second album for the Motéma imprint showed that he was a star on the rise. These mostly self-penned songs show off Porter’s command of varied vocalisations: He sings the warmly humanist lyrics of “Painted On Canvas” with searing intensity, while inhabiting “Be Good (Lion’s Song)” with a sense of romantic chill. And his scatting on “Bling Bling” adds to the interpretive range. His band is excellent, and Porter’s choice of covers is also inspired.