Gregory Porter: Don't Forget Your Music

Gregory Porter: Don't Forget Your Music, released in 2016, is an illuminating and immersive documentary delving into the life and music career of Gregory Porter, a two-time Grammy-winning jazz vocalist. Directed by Alfred George Bailey, the film takes the viewer on a rich, musical journey from Porter's humble beginnings to his rise to the top of the jazz world.

The film unveils the gleaming legacy of the man behind the recent revival in jazz music. It not only chronicles the story of the celebrated artist's voyage towards overcoming numerous personal struggles and adversities but narrates an awe-inspiring tale of inspiration, resilience, and a burning passion for music that has transcended boundaries, reinstating the timelessness of jazz in the hearts of millions.

Gregory Porter: Don't Forget Your Music starts by allowing an intimate peek into Porter's early life, born into a large family in Sacramento and raised in Bakersfield, California, where his mother, a minister, instilled in him an undying belief in the healing power of music. With subtle hints towards his upbringing, it becomes clear from the beginning that Porter's compelling, soulful voice was shaped significantly by gospel and soul music heard in childhood.

The film delicately unravels his journey of heartbreak and salvation, highlighting the tragic loss of his father at a young age, his struggle with abandonment, and the profound influence of his mother on his life and music. His impeccable talent and sublime voice powered him through these struggles and eventually laid the path to his success.

Through intimate interviews and breathtaking concert footage, filmmaker Alfred George Bailey constructs a deep, textured portrait of Porter, interweaving unforgettable live performances from across the world with in-depth interviews with the artist and those who've known him intimately. Top music personalities like Van Morrison, Gilles Peterson, Jools Holland, Jamie Cullum, Laura Mvula, and Porter's brother Lloyd lend their voices and perspectives to the film, providing greater depth to understanding Porter's musical journey.

The film pays particular emphasis on how Porter combines the soulful depth of classic jazz and soul singers like Nat King Cole with modern jazz. It encapsulates his work ethic, dedication, and uncompromising standards in the evolving world of jazz, becoming a beacon of hope for the genre's future. His work has not only preserved the essence of jazz but modernized it, gaining a younger, passionate audience for the genre, which is vividly captured in the documentary.

What shines through Gregory Porter: Don't Forget Your Music is the raw emotion and sincerity in Porter's voice, carrying with it stories of resilience, hope, and love. His acclaimed songs like "Be Good," "Hey Laura," "No Love Dying," and "Musical Genocide" are beautifully showcased, truly reflecting on Porter’s ability to communicate his own experiences and emotions through his music.

Another key highlight of the film is Porter's iconic hat, which he always wears publicly, a vestige of a skin surgery gone wrong, becoming a part of his image. In many ways, the hat and the scars underneath it are metaphoric of Porter's life and music. His songs aren’t just pleasant melodies but have depth and scars hidden within, just like the man beneath the hat.

In the end, Gregory Porter: Don't Forget Your Music stands as a richly woven homage to a vocal titan of our times. It’s not just a simple biopic or a compilation of concert footages but an interpretation of the metaphysical connection between an artist and his art. It marks the undeniable transition of Gregory Porter from a child singing in small-time gigs to a world-renowned jazz artist, culminating at the top of the Billboard and Jazz Charts.

Regardless of whether you are a fan of Porter's music or new to his work, this powerful documentary will entrance every viewer with its tenderness, warmth, and an overwhelming sense of the love that Porter has for music, and the love that the world, in turn, has for him. Could there be a more sublime feeling than listening to Porter's genre-defining voice narrating his journey into the heart of American music?

Ultimately, Gregory Porter: Don't Forget Your Music is not just a music documentary, it’s a stirring narrative of personal struggle, perseverance, and remarkable success. It reflects the man and his music that’s touched thousands of hearts and truly underlines the immortal words, "Don't forget your music." It is an absolute must-watch for all jazz enthusiasts and music lovers alike.