Jennifer Porter's new album, recorded with legendary drummer / music director, Bernard Purdie and his band. The album consists of nine original songs and a cover of the Dino Valenti classic, "Something On Your Mind." Purdie and the rest of the players on Sun Come And Shine comprise a true all-star roster. Steve Jankowski (Nile Rogers/Chic, Blood

Jennifer Porter's new album, recorded with legendary drummer / music director, Bernard Purdie and his band. The album consists of nine original songs and a cover of the Dino Valenti classic, "Something On Your Mind." Purdie and the rest of the players on Sun Come And Shine comprise a true all-star roster. Steve Jankowski (Nile Rogers/Chic, Blood Sweat & Tears), George Naha (Sam & Dave), Wilbur Bascomb (James Brown) and more form a backing band that makes its undeniable precision seem almost effortless. Special guests include Christian McBride, CJ Chenier and Cindy Cashdollar. Aside from being the perfect counterpart to her refined songwriting style, the backdrop they create enables Porter to take her sweet and sultry vocal style to new heights. The songs don't just flow from one to the next, they create individual moods that add up to an immersive experience that gently grabs you and subtly shakes you.

"With a mix between the writing talent of Carole King and the soul of Norah Jones, all of Jennifer's skills on "Sun Come and Shine" are showcased in an unparalleled masterpiece." - Rootsville, NL

Jennifer Porter's 2018 album from Grammy-winning producer, Jay Newland, featuring five original songs by Jennifer and five covers from The Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Bobby Sharpe.

After years working just under the radar in the music industry, Jennifer’s beautiful voice and evocative songs caught the attention of

Jennifer Porter's 2018 album from Grammy-winning producer, Jay Newland, featuring five original songs by Jennifer and five covers from The Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Bobby Sharpe.

After years working just under the radar in the music industry, Jennifer’s beautiful voice and evocative songs caught the attention of 12-time Grammy-winning producer, Jay Newland. "These Years" is the product of their collaboration, and consists of five original songs by Jennifer and five covers of songs by The Rolling Stones, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Bobby Sharp. The music features Jennifer’s unique, sultry voice backed by a stellar band. The album also showcases guest appearances by Grammy nominee C.J. Chenier on accordion and Country Music Hall-of-Famer, Charlie McCoy on harmonica and vibes.

Jennifer worked with longtime friends and Grammy-winners, Lawrence Manchester, and Adam Ayan on the mixing and mastering of the album. Manchester currently works as a producer and lead music mixer on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. To date, Ayan has mastered 42 Grammy Award-winning recordings.

Jennifer’s previous album "Easy Living", with Manchester, was nominated for a 2015 Independent Music Award in the Jazz With Vocals category, and received airplay throughout the country, including over a year on KJAZZ in Los Angeles, WWOZ in New Orleans and Public Radio International’s "Jazz After Hours." "These Years" is Jennifer's seventh album to date.

"These Years" is heavily influenced by Soul, Blues, and Roots music and will be released under Porter’s Maine-based label, Cougar Moon Music. This new album is a departure from her previous Jazz and film score recordings, yet retains Jennifer’s rich, lovely sound.

INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARD NOMINEE - JAZZ WITH VOCALS - Famous and lesser-known Jazz standards sung beautifully, feeling at once timeless and new.

Blessed with a beautiful voice, an infectious musical spirit, and the ability to immediately find the center of each note, Jennifer Porter always uplifts the classic material that she sings. On Easy

INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARD NOMINEE - JAZZ WITH VOCALS - Famous and lesser-known Jazz standards sung beautifully, feeling at once timeless and new.

Blessed with a beautiful voice, an infectious musical spirit, and the ability to immediately find the center of each note, Jennifer Porter always uplifts the classic material that she sings. On Easy Living, she performs with a notable group of excellent jazz musicians, affectionately interpreting classic songs, making them sound both timeless and new.

The program begins with a wonderful treatment of “Easy Living,” with Jason Anick’s violin adding to the dreamy atmosphere. Jennifer does justice to the familiar melody of “The Very Thought of You,” bringing her brand of quiet passion to the piece. “Nice Work If You Can Get It” gives the band a chance to swing hard with Jennifer sounding relaxed, floating above the ensemble.

“Crazy He Calls Me” is an important song in Jennifer Porter’s life. Hearing Billie Holiday’s recording inspired her to switch her focus from opera to jazz. Rather than copy Lady Day, her heartfelt rendition is in her own sweet-toned voice. On this song and the following “But Not For Me,” Matt Langley’s warm tenor echoes the singer’s romantic mood.

During a medium-tempo “The Best Things In Life Are Free,” Jennifer swings simply, does not waste a note, and every sound she creates is lovely. A slightly faster-than-usual version of “Gone With The Wind,” “Yesterdays” (which has Jennifer reshaping the melody a bit) and a swinging “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” precede a tender version of “I Cover The Waterfront.” On the latter two songs, Sonny Barbato’s piano recalls 1950s Oscar Peterson a bit in its fluency, effortless swing and taste.

Jennifer successfully revives the relatively obscure “Travelin’ Light,” one of the warmest performances of the CD. “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To” contains a surprise, an effective chorus of scat-singing that works very well on the up-tempo version. The memorable program concludes with “Where Or When” which is taken at first as a duo by Jennifer and pianist Barbato before Anick’s warm violin joins in.

No matter what she sings, Jennifer Porter brings an intimate gentle swing and a joyful spirit to the music that she loves.

–Scott Yanow, author of eleven books including The Jazz Singers, The Great Jazz Guitarists, Trumpet Kings, Jazz On Film and Jazz On Record 1917-76