This document discusses two albums - Take Me To The Alley by Gregory Porter and Atunse: The Revolution by Kunle Ayo. Regarding Porter's album, it says it is his latest album and follows his previous critically and commercially successful album Liquid Spirits. It also discusses a collaboration he did with Disclosure. For Ayo's album, it notes he is a renowned Nigerian jazz guitarist and this is his sixth studio album featuring famous musicians like Hugh Masekela. It gives positive reviews for both albums praising their musical styles and quality.

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GREGORY PORTER
Take Me To The Alley
(06025 4781443)
S
inger, songwriter and actor Gregory
Porter may be known by many for
‘1960 What’ and ‘Hey Laura’.
But Porter has produced several album
hits over the years.
His last album, Liquid Spirits enjoyed
what was a rare commercial success
by jazz standards sales numbers —
100 000 units in the UK alone. This
album also won him a Grammy in the
Best Jazz Vocal Album category, a well-
deserved accolade.
So in looking at how Porter’s albums
have progressed from the first one
through to Liquid Spirit, I had no
doubt that Take Me To The Alley
would be another album well worth
the three-year wait.
Before Take Me To The Alley was
released, Porter worked with the
well-known dance band Disclosure on
a track called ‘Hold On’, a collaboration
that did tremendously well. This was
then redone to become the jazzy, soulful
song that kicks off the track list on
his latest album. So in true Porter
style, the songwriting and storytelling
on this album are creative, while
his vocal delivery is still full-bodied
and clear — like Bill Withers or
Teddy Pendergrass.
This is an easy on the ear album,
one that I hope will surpass his
previous record of the most streamed
jazz album of all time. KQ
Performance: ★★★★★
Recording: ★★★★★
Supplied by Universal Music
KUNLE AYO
Atunse: The Revolution
(CDKC005)
I
first came across Kunle Ayo back in
2011 on the track ‘Words In My Head’,
featuring RJ Benjamin. The track was
not something I expected — it was full of
rhythm, but in a mellow, classy way.
When I found myself at the Guru Logic
Band debut album launch, on which Kunle
Ayo features, I was fortunate enough to
briefly chat to him. So when I found out
his CD was due for release I couldn’t wait
to take a listen.
Nigerian-born Ayo is a high-calibre
guitarist who has captured many hearts
in the jazz fraternity. Under his guitar
he has four awards that he has collected
over the years, including the Best
Contemporary Jazz Award and Best
Jazz Artist in Africa accolades from the
Metro FM and Afrima awards respectively.
Atunse: The Revolution marks his
sixth studio album, and features some
great musicians like Hugh Masekela,
Africa Mkhize and — for that added
international saxophone flavour —
Kirk Whalum.
The album strikes a fair balance
between African and modern jazz
without sounding musically incoherent.
‘Ori Okere’ and ‘Nothing To Something’
will quickly show the unsure how far
smooth African jazz has come. This is
a musically great album that represents
the African sound well, and will please
the most discerning smooth African
jazz aficionados. KQ
Performance: ★★★★★
Recording: ★★★★★
Supplied by K Cool Productions
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