Supper Clubs… remember them?  Porter Carroll, Jr. and his band create “The Evolution of Cabaret” and played to a packed house at NYC’s 54Below.  As I walked down the stairs in through the double doors I seemed to have fallen right back into the days of the 1920’s, when Supper Clubs were all the rave of Manhattan!

Enter, from what seemed to be the kitchen, winding through tables greeting patrons came the band followed by renowned singer songwriter, percussionist, drummer.. Porter Carroll Jr. warmly welcoming his audience with a contagious smile and a touch of his hand in a friendly handshake.

Opening the night with ‘Don’t Mean a Thing’ had the place foot stomping already! Followed by hits from all genres of music that everyone has listened to.  ‘Light My Fire’, ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, ‘Wichita Lineman’, ‘Ooh Baby Baby’, ‘Hot Fun’, ‘Purple Rain’, wrapping up with ‘Alfie’ … Wow! I know what you are thinking, how is this possible?

Well, Porter has embarked on a musical journey yet to be revisited.  All things old become new again with his spin on these musical hits!  He is enjoying himself on stage quite contagious till finally he has captured his listeners with his soulful range.  Not only that but he can hold a note for a crazy long time, almost caused a rambunctious standing ovation!  But he was not finished. His smile is infectious, his eye contact wonderfully reminiscent of the days of old. He is genuine and grateful.  His bow to the audience was skillfully slow and honest.

If you want to have a happy evening of live entertainment you will not be disappointed.  Catch Porter Carroll, Jr. and his band as they tour world wide.

Porter branched out on his own in the mid-1980s as a singer/songwriter. He produced a critically acclaimed album, Porter Carroll II, for Island Records, that set produced theme songs for Video Vibrations and Midnight Love on the BET cable TV network. Other credits include background vocalist for chart-topping recording artists Shania Twain, Spyro Gyra, Melba Moore, Donny Osmond and Michael Bolton. He also composed music for Luther Vandross, The Temptations, Denise Williams, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jane Fonda. Composing for Jazz greats, Bob James, Grover Washington, Will Downing, Marion Meadows and Bob Baldwin among others. Porter’s vocals have also enriched Levar Burton’s hit children’s television show Reading Rainbow.

Having joined Daryl Hall and John Oates, he is currently a regular on the MTV Live channel and Webby Award winning internet smash, Live From Daryl’s House.

Now, with his new show putting his own unique spin on popular classics not yet seen on the jazz club and cabaret circuit, join Porter Carroll Jr. – Saturday, July 8th at Feinstein’s/54 Below! (“A must see show” Doug Glanville, NY Times.)

Source: Vinyl Visionary: Porter Carroll Jr. brings “The Evolution of Cabaret” to Feinstein’s/54 Below