Gregory Porter

Gregory Porter, vocals; Chip Crawford, piano; Emanuel Harrold, drums; Tivon Pennicott, sax, horns; Jahmal Nichols, bass; Ondrej Pivec, hammond organ

A two-time Grammy Award-winning singing sensation Gregory Porter is known for his warm baritone vocals. He rose to acclaim in the 2010s with his earthy, cross-pollinated brand of jazz, soul, and gospel. A gifted singer of standards as well as more contemporary soul material, Porter has earned favourable comparisons to his idols Nat King Cole, Donny Hathaway, and Stevie Wonder. 

He announced his arrival by picking up a Grammy nomination for his 2010 debut, Water. After signing to Blue Note, he gained even wider notice for his third album, 2013’s Liquid Spirit, which hit number two on the jazz charts, and won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Although his original songs are his main focus, Porter often returns to his roots, such as on his 2017 tribute album Nat King Cole & Me.

Born in Los Angeles, Porter grew up in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. It was through his mother’s record collection that he fell under the spell of Cole, learning early on how to imitate him. Along with singing, he was also a gifted athlete, and left high school with a football scholarship to San Diego State University. 

However, after an injury to his shoulder derailed his sports career, he moved to Brooklyn where he worked days as a chef while performing in local jazz clubs. It was during this period that he met saxophonist, composer, and pianist Kamau Kenyatta. Kenyatta quickly became Porter’s mentor, and encouraged him to devote himself exclusively to music.

In 2010, Porter released his debut album, Water, on Motéma Music. Well-received, it picked up a Grammy nod for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Be Good (Motéma Music, another Grammy nomination) followed two years later and further showcased Porter’s growing confidence.

In 2013, Porter issued his third album and Blue Note debut, Liquid Spirit. The album was a huge success, landing at number two on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart, and scooping up the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. It also became one of the most streamed jazz albums of all time, with over 20 million streams. His second effort for Blue Note, Take Me to the Alley, was released in early 2016. That same year, Porter delivered a concert album, Live in Berlin.

In 2019 he released Nat King Cole & Me, an album that paid tribute to the artist who had been most influential on his own music. The concert album One Night Only: Live at the Royal Albert Hall arrived in 2018.

His latest release, sixth studio album ALL RISE, marks a return to Porter's beloved original songwriting. The 15-song set features Porter’s trademark heart-on-sleeve lyrics imbued with everyday philosophy and real-life detail, set to an exhilarating mix of jazz, soul, blues, gospel, and pop. The album represents an evolution of Porter's art to something even more emphatic, emotive, intimate, and universal.

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The concert was scheduled to take place on 17 April, postponed on 9 November,2020 and postponed to 10 March 2021. The tickets remain valid for new date 18 May 2022..

Ticket holders are entitled to a refund (please send your requests to vstopnice@cd-cc.si).