Gregory Porter

Gregory Porter discovered the music of Nat King Cole through his mother. At the age of five he wrote a song called “Once Upon A Time, I Had A Dreamboat” and recorded it onto a tape. When his mother returned home from work and heard it, she exclaimed in amazement "Boy, you sound like Nat King Cole." From that moment on, Gregory had a desire to know more about this man and his music, and spent hours playing his mother’s old Cole records on his plastic Playskool record player. Since then, Gregory's passion and commitment to expressing himself through music has remained strong, and he has developed a distinct style that ranges from jazz, funk, R&B, blues and gospel—one that is soulful while still maintaining the elegance he learned from his earlier influences.

Currently, Gregory has developed a show that is a tribute to the music and memory of Nat Cole. Through song and narration, the listener is invited into the life of Nat’s music and how it moved the life of this young boy. He is also an original cast member of the four-time Tony nominated Broadway Musical, "It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues" and has performed in the national tour of the Broadway musical, "The Civil War."

Additionally, Gregory has performed on national television shows such as "Late Night with David Letterman," "The Rosie O’Donnell Show," and “The Today Show." More recently, in 2006, he performed at the Rose Hall with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.

Gregory has recorded with the world-renowned flautist Hubert Laws, collaborating on Cole's hit, "Smile," on the album Hubert Laws Remembers the Unforgettable Nat King Cole. He has also worked with Hubert’s brother and sister, Ronnie and Debra Laws, on a song called "Journey" that receives regular airplay on jazz stations. As well as collaborating with other artists, Gregory also recorded a solo jazz and soul project, Water Under Bridges, that is well received by his audience.

In addition to frequent performances at venues in New York City, Gregory has recently toured internationally in Russia, Ukraine and South Africa, spreading his music to thousands. Keep listening for this talented young man; he has much more in store. Gregory's new CD Water will be released by Motema Music on May 11.

Wayne Escoffery: Like Minds

by Dave Linn
June 21, 2023

Wayne Escoffery was born in London and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 11, later studying at the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. In the late 1990s, Escoffery started gaining recognition on the jazz scene with his tenure in the Eric Reed Septet and later joining the Mingus Big Band. After completing his studies, Escoffery moved to New ...

Live Review

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2022

by Peter Jones
May 9, 2022

Cheltenham Jazz Festival Cheltenham, UK April 27-May 2, 2022 A prosperous Eighteenth Century spa town in the Cotswolds, chic Cheltenham is famed for its annual festivals, which now cover everything from horse racing to science. Taking place over six days leading up to the early May bank holiday weekend, its jazz festival is arguably the UK's biggest, outside London's gargantuan November shindig. Covid put paid to 2020 and 2021's in-person gigs, so it wasn't surprising that ...

Album Review

Somi: Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba

Read "Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
March 21, 2022

Il legame musicale e simbolico con l'Africa resta centrale nella produzione artistica di Somi, la vocalist e cantautrice statunitense dai genitori africani giunta al successo con gli album The Lagos Music Saloon e Holy Room. Il suo nuovo progetto è dedicato a Miriam Makeba, che avrebbe compiuto 90 anni il 4 marzo, data di pubblicazione del presente album. I brani in scaletta, tutti presi dallo storico repertorio della cantante, sono condivisi col musical Dreaming Zenzile, che Somi ...

One LP

Gregory Porter: Donny Hathaway Live

by William Ellis
April 7, 2021

"The Donny Hathaway Live album is so special because it captures—with full concentration—the thing that's special in live performance. That communication, that exchange of audience and artist. There's back and forth conversation, the women and the men in the audience are screaming things back to Donny and Donny's of course responding musically—and responding incredibly musically. You can feel the emotion in the room as soon as the needle hits the record. That communication—it's not just jazz, it's not just soul, ...

Radio & Podcasts

Gregory Porter, Kronos Quartet, Alberto Pinton, Pat Metheny & More New Releases

by Ludovico Granvassu
January 19, 2021

Gregory Porter kicks off the party with his uplifting “Revival Song" while electro-acoustic projects keep the momentum going during the first half and jazz-meets-contemporary music albums take over the second half, including the latest by Pat Metheny first adventure on a new label, Modern Recordings, as well as the celebrated Kronos Quartet in two quite different projects. Happy listening!PlaylistBen Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Gregory Porter “Revival Song" All Rise ...

Radio & Podcasts

Commanding Singers Gregory Porter and Kurt Elling

by Russell Perry
December 1, 2020

Kurt Elling has been the dominant male vocalist in jazz for the past 20 years, winning the Down Beat Critics Poll from 2000-2013. Gregory Porter released his first record in 2010 and was recognized in the same poll as a rising star in 2013. He won the critics poll in five of the past seven years, with Elling being recognized in 2018 and 2019. For fans of jazz singing, the regular releases from these two singers are annual highlights. Like all ...

In Pictures

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2019

by Gregory Savage
August 21, 2019

Hot fun in the summertime is what the 30th San Jose Jazz Summer Fest was all about. With stages titled Swing, Blues / Big Easy, Salsa, Jazz Beyond and Gospel, you get a sense of what sounds were in the air. The festival was held August 9th through the 11th in beautiful downtown San Jose, California. From high school bands to rising stars like Aneesa Strings and Amy D., mix in jazz talents Dianne Reeves, Gregory Porter, Sons Of Kemet, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Gregory Porter

Source: Michael Ricci
November 4, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Gregory Porter's birthday today!

Performance / Tour

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center Presents In-Person, Live Jazz Performances Starting September 24th With Grammy Award-Winning Vocalist Gregory Porter

Source: AMT Public Relations
July 13, 2021

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is welcoming live, in-person jazz back to its stage throughout 2021 beginning with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Gregory Porter (Sep 24). The TD Jazz Series continues in the Fall with “Salsa Meets Jazz” (Sep 25), saxophonist Boney James (Oct 14), and vocal powerhouse duo Tierney Sutton and Ann Hampton Calloway (Oct 15). Celebrating its 10th anniversary is the annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival showcasing an all-star lineup of the country’s best musicians, held ...
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Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The return of Gregory Porter

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
January 31, 2016

This week, let's check out some videos featuring singer Gregory Porter, who's returning to St. Louis for the first time since January 2013 for a concert presented by Jazz St. Louis on Saturday, February 6 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. A lot has happened in Porter's career in the three years since he made his St. Louis debut at Jazz at the Bistro, including international touring, headlining gigs at major festivals, multiple appearances on US and UK television, and ...
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Recording

Motema Music Releasing Gregory Porter's "Water" And "Be Good" On Vinyl On November 26

Source: Cary Goldberg
November 15, 2013

Water Will Include Opolopo's Remix of “1960 What?" as Bonus Track In 2010, when Motéma Music was still a fledgling label, albeit one with an already impressive roster that included such lauded artists as Lynne Arriale, Rufus Reid and Marc Cary, President Jana Herzen signed a relatively unknown vocalist by the name of Gregory Porter. At the time, the Brooklyn-based vocalist was already developing quite a buzz, incited by his weekly SRO residency at St. Nick’s Pub in Harlem. Porter’s ...
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Contest

Enter the "Gregory Porter - Vinyl LP" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz
November 9, 2013

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Motema Music “Gregory Porter - Vinyl LP" giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on December 9th. Each winner will receive the vinyl editions of Gregory Porter's Motema releases, Water and Be Good. Click here to enter the contest (Becoming a fan of Gregory Porter at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at Motema Music About Gregory ...
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Performance / Tour

Preview: The Triangle North Carolina 2013-14 Jazz Season By Larry Reni Thomas

Source: Larry Reni Thomas
July 21, 2013

The busy, expanding, thoroughly-satisfying jazz scene in what is called the “Triangle” area of the Piedmont section of North Carolina just keeps getting better and better. Who needs the New York or the D.C. jazz scene when everybody seems to be coming this way? The area can boast of several venues that present jazz like, Irregardless Café, Brasa’s, Sullivan’s and Bia in Raleigh; The Beyu, The Carolina Theatre, Casbah, Motorco Music Hall, Whiskey’s, ATC/Stack, Blue Note Grill, Durham Jazz Workshop ...
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Performance / Tour

Gregory Porter Serves Spoleto Splendidly

Source: Larry Reni Thomas
June 4, 2013

By Larry Reni Thomas CHARLESTON, SC: “How does it feel to be the hottest cat out here, Gregory Porter? I mean you are working all over the place. You are here in Charleston for two nights (May 24 and 25) at Spoleto Festival. You are going to be at The Playboy Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival and the other biggies. You just back from Europe and Brazil. You hot, man! You hot!" “Hey, man, ...
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Festival

Newport Jazz Festival: Natalie Cole, Freddy Cole, Gregory Porter, Dee Alexander

Source: Carolyn McClair Public Relations
February 26, 2013

2013 NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL GIVES VOICE TO AN EXCITING SLATE OF SOULFUL LEGENDS AND RISING STARS FEATURING NATALIE COLE, GREGORY PORTER FREDDY COLE AND DEE ALEXANDER NEWPORT, RI: Continuing the rich tradition of presenting the best of emerging and established musicians, the 2013 Newport Jazz Festival, produced by Newport Festivals Foundation, will feature an eclectic slate of legendary and rising vocalists who skillfully embody the power and history – and the swing and groove – of the uniquely American musical ...
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Award / Grant

Gregory Porter's "Be Good" Is Best Jazz Vocal Album In iTunes' Best Of 2012

Source: GoMedia PR
December 14, 2012

Grammy nominated vocalist Gregory Porter’s album Be Good has been named the Best Jazz Vocal Album in iTunes’ Best of 2012. The award is the latest in the spate of accolades and acclaim that Porter has earned since the February release of Be Good, his second release for Harlem-based Motema Music. Porter made history when iTunes selected “Real Good Hands” as its first song by a jazz artist to be featured as the Single of The Week, which propelled the ...
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Award / Grant

Gregory Porter's "Real Good Hands" Receives Grammy Nomination For "Best Traditional R&B Performance”

Source: Cary Goldberg
December 8, 2012

Acclaimed Vocalist's Second Grammy Nomination Is for Track from Be Good, His Sophomore Release on Motema Music Acclaimed vocalist Gregory Porter has received a Grammy nomination in the Best Traditional R&B Performance category for the song “Real Good Hands," a track from his second Motema Music album, Be Good. This marks Porter's second Grammy nomination. His first was in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for Water, his breakthrough debut album (a rare feat for a debut recording), which was ...
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