When Gregory Porter (pictured) blew in to the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London’s Soho last night for his UK live debut, not only did he conclusively prove he’s the most dynamic, soulful, passionate and engaging jazz singer to come along in years, but his brand new songs are already as good as the very best tracks from his highly acclaimed debut, Water, released earlier this year.

Taking the stage in his now trademark Kangol hat the 39 year old Bakersfield –born, Brooklyn-based African-American singer and composer ripped straight into his strident, big-bodied interpretation of Wayne Shorter’s ‘Black Nile’, with lyrics by Luba Rashiek, backed by a robust UK quintet of saxophonist Ben castle, trumpeter Graeme Flowers, pianist Grant Windsor, bassist Geoff Gascoyne and drummer Dave Ohm, who gained in confidence and swagger as the two sets progressed. Porter is a total natural with a deep authenticity and huge stage presence no amount of coaching, schooling or talent-shaping scheme could ever get near and tonight he’s taking risks with the tune right from the get-go, twisting the lines, scatting across the bridges and working off Windsor’s McCoy Tyner-like energy.

With a rich, autumnal voice, carrying echoes of Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Nat King Cole, Lou Rawls and Oscar Brown Jr but still very much his own sound, Porter can tug at the heart strings in a manner rarely heard nowadays as he articulates relationship break-ups and lost loves, including debut album standouts ‘Illusion’ and ‘Pretty’ with a literary skill and deft touch sadly lacking in many current excuses for ‘deep’ lyrics. Yet give him an unashamed romper like Nat Adderley’s ‘Work Song’ and he’ll tear the head off it, pushing the band to swing harder, sidling up to Castle and punching out the horn lines like Otis Redding at Monterey while slamming the stops with the conviction of a man who knows just how to go about his business.

Amongst the new material premiered, including the eco-inclined ‘Sun Song’ and the Marvin Gaye-ish ‘You’re Nearer’, the gospel-deep, social conscious lyric and heartfelt delivery of ‘You Can’t Keep Me Away From Where I was Born’ sounds like a classic in the making when the new album hits early next year. Closing out with the gritty social-political street funk of ‘1960 What’, which tonight tapped into the intensity of Les McCann’s classic live ‘Compared To What’ and had the audience confidently singing the back up vocal line like Porter was a household name, the band stepped up to the mark with majesty and mayhem egged on by the singer.

He could have played all night and the audience would have stayed riveted but his encore of an utterly jaw-dropping a cappella version of Nat King Cole’s ‘Mona Lisa’ rendered the matter closed. “Turn the reverb way up high like the 1940s” he implored the soundman Luke and for a few priceless moments we were totally lost in her sound, as well as her smile. Mr Porter is back at Pizza Express for two dates, 7-8 October. Miss him at your peril.

- Jon Newey