George Porter Jr. & the Runnin’ Pardners: Porter’s Pocket
George Porter Jr., as a founding member of The Meters, has been synonymous with New Orleans funk nearly as long as there’s been New Orleans funk. The Meters were an on-and-off entity for years, however, and Porter has always kept himself occupied during his downtime, whether contributing to recordings and live performances by the likes of Dr. John, John Scofield, Paul McCartney, Bill Kreutzmann and Tori Amos or leading his own Runnin’ Pardners (currently keyboardist Michael Lemmler, drummer Terrence Houston and guitarist Chris Adkins, the band’s newest recruit). Now 77, Porter is as dynamic a bassist as ever, and the all-instrumental Porter’s Pocket is a groove in every sense of the word. “Buttermilk,” the leadoff tune, features Lemmler’s rich organ work, positioning the track somewhere between classic Booker T. and the MG’s and the soul-jazz of Dr. Lonnie Smith or “Brother” Jack McDuff. “Latenighter” tones down the pace, putting Adkins in charge of atmospherics, and “Sauce on the Side” mines a loping, quasi reggae beat that Porter uses as an opportunity to dig in deep and subtly define. But it’s “Tito’s Dumpling Machine,” which closes out the album and was the first song released from it, that takes best-of-show. Here, in just under four-and-a-half minutes, is what George Porter Jr. is all about— non-stop danceable rhythm (drummer Houston shines), flawlessly intuitive interaction with his fellow players and a chill feel that grabs hold of your soul and doesn’t let go.
