Search - Willy Porter :: Willy Porter

Best musical act you've never heard of

Roger Townsend | 05/30/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My interest in Willy Porter began when I saw him play live at a local venue. His recordings are very good, however, as often happens, they don't begin to do justice to the full range of his talent. This latest is a fine effort. In this age of corporate music, Willy Porter is like a breath of fresh air. Having seen Willy perform several times now, I have a tremendous respect for his talent. What really hooked me originally was a spontaneous tune that began as a guitar riff he was noodling with while adjusting his equipment. The band jumped in, and all of a sudden they were into a mesmerizing slow funk groove over which Willy laid down some absolutely stunning lyrics as well as some electric jazz guitar work unlike any I've heard him do since. The impact was similar to the first time I saw Miles Davis play back in the 60's, or the magic that happened when sax great John Handy played a gig with legendary Indian sarode player Ali Akbar Khan. The rest of the audience was as knocked out by it as I was, and a 5 minute standing ovation ensued. Willy looked slightly surprised and a bit embarrassed. I'm not certain even he knew he had it in him.Suffice it to say that the only downside to Willy Porter's recordings is that there is so much more than they capture. Artists like Willy no longer receive major label attention these days, and thus don't have a budget that allows them to get the most talented production people available to them. I have to agree with the other reviewer indicated that with a top producer, Willy is capable of putting out one for the ages. Do yourself a favor and catch his live act when he's in your area. The engaging folky tunes and acoustic guitar work heard on Porter's recordings are simply the tip of the iceberg. This guy is a monster talent that is almost totally overlooked."

Good stuff, but it can use some work

J. Blackman | Savannah, GA United States | 04/19/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I think Willy is an INCREDIBLE guitar player and a damn fine singer. However, I personally think that he can use the help of an experienced producer who might be able to better piece his talents together. I think his songwriting can use some work and he needs to learn how to maximize his tremendous potential. I like the album and I think it's worth buying, but it's not among my "dessert island" collection. It's a shame because with a little work, I think he could [make] that list."