Art Porter..Gone Too Soon

[SmoothJazzWorld]

You talkin' about devastated...that's how I felt upon hearing of this talent's demise. A horrible, horrible thing. I had just discovered Mr. Porter and ran out to buy everything I could find by him. I went nuts in the beauty behind his sound. I still can't bring myself to approach the pain I felt when he became the victim of drowning. Here is his story. Art Porter, a native of Little Rock, AR, began his musical education at home, learning and practicing jazz standards under the instruction of his father Art Porter, Sr., a renowned pianist and former accompanist for Carmen McCrae and John Stubblefield. Starting off on drums and becoming part of his father's band, Porter was drawn to the sax after noticing the melodic proficiency of his father and another band member, Leonard Johnson, who was his high school band director. He decided to drop the drums and get into the harmonics of music. The saxophone intrigued him with it being so close to the human voice. Porter picked up the sax and found that he had a natural affinity with the instrument. When he was 16 and worked with his father's trio, he was barred from playing in clubs because he was under 21. The ensuing case led to Arkansas State's Attorney General Bill Clinton pushing through a law allowing underage performers to work if a parent or guardian supervises. At 18, Porter learned his most valuable musical lessons when he began touring with such jazz masters as organist Jack McDuff and saxophonist Pharoah Sanders. He matured as a player and learned how to interact with an audience. In between concerts, Porter continued his studies at the Berklee Conservatory of Music and at Virginia Commonwealth University where he became a student of pianist/educator Ellis Marsalis. In 1992, Porter came to Chicago on a scholarship to Northeastern Illinois University, finishing with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He went to study at Roosevelt University where he earned his master's degree. In the Windy City, Porter was mentored by legendary tenor saxophonist Von Freeman and bassist James Leary. When Porter was signed to Verve Forecast, he decided that instead of jumping on the then-current neo-classical jazz bandwagon, Porter decided to make his largely self-composed debut contemporary rather than bop-revisited in style. Produced and engineered by keyboardist Jeff Lorber, Pocket City was immediately embraced by those who didn't want their smooth jazz "too smooth" in the summer of 1992. The key tracks, the heart-melting ballad "Inside Myself," a cover of Maxi Priest's "Close to You," and funky hoppin' "Pocket City" (whose video was played on VH1 and BET) were played on both smooth jazz and a few urban stations. Porter was sent on a promotional and concert tours where he built up a reputation for being very amiable and giving a high-octane performance. Porter was a whirling wonder on stage, smiling like a Chesire cat, blowing his heart out, running around the venue honking it up. On November 23, 1996, while journeying to a remote part of Thailand to perform in a jazz festival, Porter was killed when the boat he was riding in capsized. Beside his four Verve sets, Pocket City, Straight to the Point, Undercover, Lay Your Hands on Me, and the posthumously released For Art's Sake, Art Porter appeared as a sideman on recordings by Jeff Lorber, Tom Grant, and Ramsey Lewis and was infusing a hard bop sound sensibility to smooth jazz when he was killed. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide Click To Play

[Edie Antoinette]

Tara..I usually lose my mind in ecstasy when I happen upon beauty like Art's--I was so enthralled *still am* with his talent and skill. I'm overjoyed that he left us such a legacy though his life was cut short by tragedy.

Your dad sounds like my kind of gentleman...and thanks for the support here.

[Tara]

Art WAS jazz for me. My dad used to come home from work and unwind to Art. I could see it happen with the music . . . the deeper Art became, the more my dad relaxed.

[Edie Antoinette]

Z..I was immediately attached to him upon hearing that horn. It was a complete tragedy to lose him, especially since I had just discovered him..*sigh*

I have compilations that I've done with 3 quarters...him! LOL Lay Your Hands On Me is a jam from start to finish. Poor baby..I just hate that he's gone--as well as George Howard. Sad.

Sole, yes baby--you do need to plunge into the lake of smooth, ie., Jazz--you have a natural knack. I love that Chuck Mangione you posted.

Klu--you and me both.

Cat...you got that right. Thanks All for your participation here. Love from me to you.

[ZeroGravity]

Exceptional artist. A great loss. I spent many days and night wrapped in splendid solitude with Art in the background enhancing those moments to the max. To me he was one of the best.

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

I really need to get into Jazz, this song is smoooooth...He died a horrible death