Gregory Porter's dos and don'ts of jazz

GRAMMY Award-winning jazz vocalist and dapper Don Gregory Porter has been breaking jazz down for the lay man in mens' magazine GQ. 

As someone who appreciates the music you may already be au fait with his rudiments, or perhaps you've never really thought about it at all while you listen to and love jazz. Either way this is a lovely piece which includes Gregory's potted history of jazz.

A brief overview of his observations:

• Do expect jazz to be free - you can't predict it, it's all about freedom.
• Don't assume you don't like jazz - Lose your assumptions. The umbrella of jazz is so big and so wide.
• Do go to see jazz live - The umbrella of jazz is so big and so wide. When it works it's genius.
• Don't think of jazz in the past tense - It's a living music, it's not this thing that sits on a shelf and gets dusty.
• Do clap (but only when you're supposed to) - always do it on the two and four beats or it ruins the swing!
• Do use the lingo! - If a track's got a good beat say 'mmm, that's funky!' (you've got to say the ‘mmmm’)

Read it here.

Gregory Porter will perform at the forthcoming Jazz FM Awards on April 26th 2016 where he'll also receive a special Impact Award in recognition of the extended reach of his music beyond jazz audiences.