Written by | Ray Cornelius
Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Gregory Porter and rising music star Kandace Springs brought down the house Friday night in Atlanta for WCLK 91.9’s Spring Benefit Concert. The sold out performance took place at the beautiful Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and yours truly was there to capture all of the sights and sounds.
Springs opened the show with an hour long set that included such classics as “People Make the World Go Round,” “Nearness,” “Soul Eyes” and Solange‘s “Cranes in the Sky.” Her voice and music styling is often compared to the jazz divas of old like Ella [Fitzgerald] and Nina [Simone] and I can see why. Spring’s delivery is effortless and her tone reminds me of a seasoned chanteuse. Trust me, she had the audience eating out the palm of her manicured hands after the first note. Highlights included her beautiful renditions of Billy Strayhorn‘s “Lush Life” and Roberta Flack‘s “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
Porter opened his 90-minute set to a thunderous applause and cheers. It’s been about four years since WCLK has had him in concert and fans were eager to hear that signature baritone voice. The statue-esque performer is currently on tour with his “Take Me to the Alley” CD and began the show with his chart-topping hit single, “Holding On.” He also did new versions of his classic hits like “On My Way to Harlem,” “Musical Genocide” “Liquid Spirits” as well as a hand clapping, toe tapping version of The Temptation‘s “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” He closed out with the fan favorite “1960 What?”
Check out more exclusive photos from the show below as well as backstage shots with Porter and Springs and my impromptu photoshoot with the WCLK personalities: Mark Angel, Debb Moore, Jamal Ahmad, Jay Edwards, RivaBlue and Morris Baxter.
Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com