AMG Review of For Art's Sake

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

Although it has a few rough spots, For Art's Sake is a wonderful tribute to the sadly departed smooth jazz saxophonist. Since he completed Lay Your Hands on Me shortly before his death, there weren't too many completed outtakes in the vault, so For Art's Sake contains live tracks, remixes and "Mr. Porter," a Porter composition that was turned into a tribute by Lee Ritenour, Jeff Lorber and Gerald Albright, among others. The music on the album is joyous, lightly funky smooth jazz illustrating that Porter was developing an appealing signature style. Of course, it is sad to hear this in light of his tragic passing, but For Art's Sake is a classy tribute to his memory -- one that demonstrates how abundantly gifted he was on his chosen instrument.