Jazz star Gregory Porter's bizarre tribute song to top Indian restaurant

GATESHEAD, U.K. - Nov. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- HE IS the world-famous jazz singer whose velvety smooth delivery has won him critical acclaim and an army of fans.

But Gregory Porter’s latest recording is unlikely to repeat the success of his 2014 Grammy award-winning album Liquid Spirit.

In it, the super cool star – dubbed the jazz cat-in-a-hat – waxes lyrical about lentils and rice! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjdL9eDbkNA

The Californian sensation serenaded customers and staff at Raval Luxury Indian Restaurant in Gateshead with a bizarre song he made up on the spur of the moment.

In the recording – captured on a customer’s mobile phone and which has only just come to light – Porter sings somewhat confusingly about lentils being made from “sand castles, camels and real caravans!”

He then goes on sing about how his dish was “seasoned with spice” before introducing a “brown-eyed girl who changed my world” into the lyric, a reference perhaps to the Van Morrison hit.

Customers and staff looked on in amazement at the impromptu performance, which came after the singer’s sell-out show at the Sage Music Centre last Thursday.

Before breaking into song, Porter says to camera: “I had an incredible meal here.” He then advises food lovers, “whilst you are here, have the lentils and rice.”

Raval – named Best Restaurant in the North East at that last British Curry Awards in London – is no stranger to celebrity endorsement.

The restaurant has previously played host to the likes of Sir Cliff Richard, Alan Shearer and pop group The Saturdays, whose singer FrankieBridge is currently wowing judges on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Manager Avi Malik said: “It was a very spontaneous performance that took everyone by surprise.

“Gregory Porter pointed the phone camera at me and asked me to introduce myself, so I simply said ‘welcome to Raval.’

“I had no idea what would happen next, but he just broke into song. I have to admit, I wasn’t entirely sure what all the lyrics meant, but it was nevertheless very flattering.”

Also eating at the restaurant was Porter’s support act, Nina Ferro, who opened for legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka at the Sage the previous evening.