Still Rising: The Collection

Part career-spanning retrospective and part companion album to 2020's All Rise, 2021's Still Rising: The Collection brings together some of vocalist Gregory Porter's most beloved and potent tracks with newly recorded songs. Along with many solo tracks, there is also a second disc showcasing his ebullient duets with singers like Lalah Hathaway, Renee Fleming, Dianne Reeves, and others. Of the new tracks featured on Still Rising, we get the gospel influenced "I Will," the romantic piano ballad "Bad Girl Love," and the kinetic pop anthem "Dry Bones," the latter of which splits the difference between contemporary hits by Fitz & the Tantrums and the '80s new wave-infused work of Hall & Oates. Of the retrospective material, we get cuts like "Illusion" off Porter's 2010 debut Water, "No Love Dying" off 2013's Grammy-winning Liquid Spirit, and his cover of the standard "L.O.V.E." off 2017's Nat King Cole & Me. We also get fan favorite duets, including "Insanity," his deeply soulful collaboration with Lalah Hathaway off 2016's Grammy-winning Take Me To The Alley, as well as "Water Under the Bridges" with Laura Mvula off Liquid Spirit. There are also several previously unreleased covers here, including a live version of Sting's "It's Probably Me" and an infectious rendition of the R&B classic "My Babe." Most of these tracks feature Porter's longtime backing ensemble of pianist Chip Crawford, bassist Jahmal Nichols, drummer Emanuel Harrold, and saxophonist Tivon Pennicott. While in no way a standard greatest hits compilation, Still Rising: The Collection nonetheless manages to further illuminate Porter's decade-long rise from buzzed-about jazz star to one of the most acclaimed and genre-defying vocalists of his generation. ~ Matt Collar