GREGORY Porter, he of the hat and the voice you take your jazz hat off to, had one particular Yorkshireman in raptures. Three times he could not resist shouting out at the dapper American, first "You sexy man", twice more "You sexy b**ger".

The gentleman giant on stage took it in his stride. We cheered, men and women alike. Porter has that effect, a beatific presence, a blessed voice where gospel meets jazz, as truths pour out of a social conscience reminiscent of Marvin Gaye. Has any success in the past ten musical years been more warranted?

Porter's solo recording career had a late start: he was 39 when he bathed us in Water in 2010, but that soulful maturity has defined his appeal.

There is a life lived behind each song and a stage craft that nods to the jazz and soul greats. He is charming, amusing, with stories to tell, and he knows how to construct a set to show off singer and band alike, recalling the late Leonard Cohen's Leeds Arena farewell in his appreciation of his musicians' playing, stepping back to watch each saxophone and trumpet solo.

The set list could not have been better chosen, opening with Holding On and riding high on such Liquid Spirit favourites as the hand-clapping title track, Water Under Bridges, Hey Laura and the climactic No Love Dying. The sublime Take Me To The Alley topped them all, while a seated Porter with only piano accompaniment came at just the right moment for a change of tempo.

"Peace and love, y'all. God bless you," he said at the close. The very best of sentiments, after the very best of shows.