November 3, 2023
With his customary class, elegance, and sophistication, GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Gregory Porter releases his first-ever Christmas album which is out now on Blue Note/Decca Records. Christmas Wish is a loving tribute to his favorite time of year – and to great songwriters, singers, and interpreters including Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Dinah Washington, and Nat King Cole. In addition to this list of world class names, Porter himself has added to the Christmas songbook with three original tracks, soon to be favorites for the festive season.
Backed by his long-time band and produced by repeat collaborator Troy Miller, the album features inspired interpretations of carols, standards, and soulful sixties deep-cuts including “Silent Night,” “Little Drummer Boy,” Marvin Gaye’s “Purple Snowflakes,” Stevie Wonder’s “Someday At Christmas,” and Frank Loesser’s “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?,” which features a special guest appearance by GRAMMY-winning vocalist Samara Joy.
The theme of sharing and caring at Christmas, and the sense of renewal and revival that comes when the year draws to a close, is all here in Porter’s most personal contribution – his trio of new, self-penned songs, “Christmas Wish,” “Heart For Christmas,” and “Everything’s Not Lost,” an elegant piano ballad that is Porter’s persuasive plea to remember those less fortunate than ourselves. “I’m always thinking of balance” he explains. “That has been instilled in me and it keeps coming up in a lot of my music. At your highest, at your greatest, at your most pleasant time, don’t forget about other people who are suffering.”
Christmas Wish features Porter’s longtime pianist Chip Crawford on piano, Emmanuel Harrold on drums and percussion, Gregoire Maret on harmonica, Jahmal Nichols on bass, Ondre Pivec on Hammond organ, Tivon Pennicott on flute, soprano saxophone, and tenor saxphone, and backing vocals by Stephanie Fisher-Alvarenga, Chris Ashley Anthony, and Sheherazade Holman with orchestral contributions from the Kingdom Orchestra. The album was recorded between Sear Sound Studio in New York City and London’s Crossways Studio and Abbey Road Studios.
Porter will be warming up the winter months as he tours the globe with his band. He returns to London’s Royal Albert Hall on Dec. 13 (after three sold-out shows there earlier this year) and has also announced special holiday concerts at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans (Dec. 20), Fox Theatre in Atlanta (Dec. 21), Detroit Opera House in Detroit (Dec. 22), and his first-ever New Year’s Eve performance which will take place at The Kennedy Center in Washington DC (Dec. 31). For ticket information visit www.gregoryporter.com/tour.
TRACKLIST
- Silent Night
- Christmas Waltz
- Everything’s Not Lost
- Someday at Christmas
- Purple Snowflakes
- Little Drummer Boy
- What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? feat. Samara Joy
- Christmas Wish
- Cradle in Bethlehem
- Do You Hear What I Hear?
- Christmas Time is Here
- Heart for Christmas
