Bass legend George Porter Jr. is known among younger generations as a prolific performing artist. Though his recorded output has been sporadic over the years, the loss of live gigs during this pandemic provided an unprecedented opportunity in his long career.

Along with his longtime Runnin’ Pardners band, drummer Terrence Houston, keyboardist Michael Lemmler and guitarist Chris Adkins, Porter recently released a tour-de-force album, Crying For Hope, which simultaneously reaches back into funk history while establishing a new standard for modern-day recording techniques.

Each individual instrument on each tune, all of which are credited to the band, was recorded in isolation at each musician’s home studio. Though many albums feature parts recorded separately in isolation booths to insure an excellent mix, I’m not sure I have ever heard of a release by a major artist recorded in this fashion. To the great credit of Porter and crew, the album soars.

Many of the songs feature the open spaces between the notes that define the best soul and funk. Check out the tasty instrumental “Get Back Up.” With a solid backbeat anchored by Houston’s deft touch, the tune positively grooves as Lemmler percolates and perambulates across the keys. By the time Adkins’ guitar makes a pronounced appearance at about the two and half-minute mark, the song has already entered into ear-candy territory for funk lovers.

While the title cut harkens back to the social commentary lyricism of some of the best Meters songs and references the déjà-vu all-over-again experiences of Black America in these fraught times, the rest of the album remains emotionally upbeat and hopeful.

For a band that is known for its stop-on-a-dime tightness when performing live, this album proves over and over that with the right musical ingredients the magic can actually be bottled.