Music
CDs and MP3s (Scroll down for audio samples)
Italian Encounter
The critics raved about this CD--see Reviews. Recorded live in Italy, July 29, 2006. Furio Di Castri and Fabrizio Sferra are among the best--and best known--bassists and drummers in Europe. Furio has played with Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Charles Lloyd, Steve Lacy, Dave Liebman, Pharoah Sanders, and many others, while Fabrizio worked with Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Mal Waldron, Joe Pass, Kenny Wheeler, the acclaimed trio "Doctor 3" and many others. Porter writes: "On the morning of the concert, we rehearsed for about 50 minutes, less than an hour. Yet, as you will hear, we play like old friends, with close listening and a constant interaction between us." (The Rutgers University Research Council provided a grant that paid some of the expenses of preparing this CD.)
Second Voyage
Eight of the ten pieces are Porter's compositions; Dave Liebman guests on two. The CD was regularly featured on WBGO and WKCR and has received positive mentions. For example, in a review for the leading British magazine Jazzwise (July 2002), jazz scholar Brian Priestley wrote that Porter is "a fine pianist and bandleader... a strong ensemble player and versatile soloist." Recorded in Manhattan, June 22, 2000. (Partly supported by a Rutgers Research Council Grant.)
Other Recordings
Jews From Hell/Radical Jewish Acculturation
Allen Lowe: (released March 2007) Porter is featured on a long piano solo (I use Allan's written theme and then improvise in the style of it; then I get more free); it also features (on separate tracks) Matthew Shipp, Mark Ribot and Randy Sandke, among others.
Play Fiddle Play
Matt Glaser: recorded April 1986 at Berklee College, Boston (Flying Fish Records 70555, 1990). Glaser is the Chair of Strings at Berklee; Porter plays in the band and he takes an alto saxophone solo on "Foggy Mountain Special."
http://www.rounderstore.com/product.asp?P=1896405552
Generations
Zahav, the group of the fantastic Cantors Martin Goldstein and Adam Goldstein, performs their original Jewish music and arrangements of traditional songs. Recorded in 1991. Porter plays drums on about half of the tracks!
http://www.zahav-music.com/Generations.htm
MP3s
Medley - "After the Rain" and "Naima"
Dave Liebman, sax, and Lewis Porter, piano, perform a medley of Coltrane's "After the Rain" and "Naima" (the "upside down" version of the theme that Coltrane once used). Recorded at Le Petit Faucheux, Tours, France, Nov. 26, 2007
Solo Improvisation
During his duet concert with Dave Liebman, Porter premiered this new
unaccompanied piano piece that was a "hit" of the event. Recorded at
Le Petit Faucheux, Tours, France, Nov. 26, 2007
Cherokee Variation
This improvisation on the chords of "Cherokee" comes from Dr. Porter's concert in Italy, July 29, 2006, which has been released on CD on the Altrisuoni label. The bassist, Furio DiCastri and the drummer, Fabrizio Sferra, are renowned throughout Europe.
