Black Mona Lisa

In 1997, having already made his Broadway debut, performing arts polymath Billy Porter released a self-titled album of smooth R&B that he has since noted deliberately hid his queerness. Over the next 25 years he maintained a presence on Broadway and released a trio of soul-styled, Broadway-themed albums. In the 2010s, he became a Tony- and Emmy-winning queer icon with his roles in Broadways Kinky Boots and on TVs Pose. With Porter describing it as not only a celebration of life but a lifetime in the making, 2023s Black Mona Lisa finds him at last expressing his authentic self on record with a series of reflections and affirmations drawing on his life experience, shifting outlook, and growing sense of empowerment. These take the form of old-school disco, house, and funk anthems (and the occasional ballad) penned with help from Grammy-winning non-binary songwriter Justin Tranter (Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande). "Broke a Sweat" sets the click track to 120 bpm and gets things going with a kiss-off to those who would push him into the background ("Clipped wings can grow back with good intentions/Im tired of asking for their permission"). Next up, the Billboard-charting, "Lady Marmalade"-esque "Children" lights a fire under the younger generation ("Been there, done that, worn that dress"), and the strutting, half-rapped "Black Mona Lisa" employs a horn section to help demand his worth. Mixed in with these more celebratory, even preening moments are earnest sentiments concerning hard-won opportunity, expression, and transformation. Its these songs, including "Not Ashamed" and the soaring piano ballad "Audacity," that earn the cathartic release of the rest, including the closing reworking of "Children," "Children (What Time It Is)," a triumphant duet with the albums sole guest vocalist, Lady Blackbird. ~ Marcy Donelson

近年はTVドラマ「Pose」への出演などでLGBTQ+コミュニティのアイコンとして注目を集める俳優/シンガーの新作。今回はブロードウェイ絡みではなく、97年の初作以来と言えるオリジナル作品だ。ただし作風は異なり、ジャスティン・トランターやジャシファーといったポップス最前線の気鋭たちが手掛ける楽曲は、レディ・ブラックバードとの共演版も収録した既発の"Children"に代表されるディスコやダンス・ポップが中心で、ビヨンセの近作とは違った角度から黒人のクィア当事者として誇り高く自信に満ちた歌声を披露する。サイケなバラードや快活なファンクも含め、壮大にして優しさの滲む意欲作だ。
bounce (C)林 剛