One of eight siblings raised by a minister mother in Bakersfield, California, Gregory Porter found his voice both by singing in church and by studying her Nat King Cole records at home. Though Cole’s talent, wisdom, and poise made him something of a surrogate father to a musically gifted boy who lived in his own head, it was a football scholarship that eventually carried Porter from California’s Central Valley to San Diego State University. An injury derailed his athletic career, but he found a mentor in producer Kamau Kenyatta, who has worked with Porter ever since. After college, Porter moved to New York to work the kitchen in his brother’s Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn cafe by day, and jazz clubs by night.
Though Porter had an acclaimed role in the original 1999 Broadway cast of It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues — and staged his own Nat King Cole & Me musical in 2004 — it was inevitable that he’d became known for his songs. That was made abundantly clear when both of Porter’s indie albums — 2010’s Water and 2012’s Be Good — received GRAMMY nominations, paving the way for his world-beating 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit, which won the GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Album. He hasn’t let down his legion of fans since, whether collaborating with Disclosure on “Holding On,” scoring another GRAMMY for Take Me to the Alley (2016), or telling his life story through Cole’s songbook. Like others, Porter is still surprised by his runaway success, but he has a theory: “I was soothed by my voice as a child and I think that’s the same thing others get from it. I’m trying to heal myself with these songs.”
And that’s the thing about love that ALL RISE keeps circling. Even when it’s painful, confusing, out of reach, or under attack, love is ultimately curative. Drop the needle on “Revival” and just try to pretend you aren’t lifted by the spirit no matter your personal faith or affiliation. Once again, Porter cuts through the noise of genres and the mess of life to reach us all where we live: the heart.
Christmas Wish - Gregory Porter
Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen
Still Rising - Gregory Porter
Gregory Porter “I Will”
GREGORY PORTER “ALL RISE”
We'd tell you Gregory Porter is back, but you probably already knew. You probably felt the earth rumbling, announcing the man's bone-deep baritone, or you felt the air change as the warmth of his sound filled the atmosphere like a hug from above. That's because ALL RISE, his sixth studio album, marks a return to Porter's beloved original songwriting — heart-on-sleeve lyrics imbued with everyday... read more
BLUE NOTE NOMINEES FOR THE 2025 GRAMMY AWARDS
Congratulations to all the Blue Note artists who received nominations for the 2025 GRAMMY Awards! BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM: Bill Frisell Orchestras The guitarist’s trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston collaborates with the Brussels Philharmonic and Umbria Jazz Orchestra on two... read more
GREGORY PORTER RELEASES HIS FIRST-EVER HOLIDAY ALBUM “CHRISTMAS WISH”
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... read more
Apr 22
Gregory Porter
The Brighton Centre, Brighton United Kingdom
Apr 23
Gregory Porter
Symphony Hall, Birmingham United Kingdom
Apr 24
Gregory Porter
Symphony Hall, Birmingham United Kingdom
Apr 26
Gregory Porter
First Direct Arena, Leeds United Kingdom
Apr 28
Gregory Porter
Royal Albert Hall, London United Kingdom
Apr 29
Gregory Porter
Royal Albert Hall, London United Kingdom
May 01
Gregory Porter
Royal Albert Hall, London United Kingdom
May 02
Gregory Porter
Royal Albert Hall, London United Kingdom
May 04
Gregory Porter
Festspielhaus St. Pölten - Großer Saal, Sankt Pölten Austria
May 05
Gregory Porter
Landestheater Linz - Musiktheater, Linz Austria
May 07
Gregory Porter
Teatro Nazionale Italiana Assicurazioni, Milan Italy
May 08
Gregory Porter
Gran Teatro Geox, Padova Italy
May 10
Gregory Porter
Co-op Live, Manchester United Kingdom
May 11
Gregory Porter
SEC Armadillo, Glasgow United Kingdom
May 12
Gregory Porter
O2 City Hall Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne United Kingdom
May 14
Gregory Porter
Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth United Kingdom
May 15
Gregory Porter
Utilita Arena Cardiff, Cardiff United Kingdom
May 17
Gregory Porter
Margaret Island Open-Air Stage, Budapest Hungary
Jun 12
Gregory Porter
Mein Schiff® meets Elbjazz 2025, Hamburg Germany
Jun 27
Gregory Porter
Filene Center at Wolf Trap, Vienna United States
Jun 28
Gregory Porter
Saratoga Jazz Festival, Saratoga Springs United States
Jun 29
Gregory Porter
New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark United States
Jul 03
Gregory Porter
Palangos koncertų salė, Palanga Lithuania
Jul 04
Gregory Porter
Pirita Convent Ruins, Tallinn Estonia
Jul 06
Gregory Porter
JazzOpen, Stuttgart Germany
Jul 10
Gregory Porter
Stadtpark Open Air, Hamburg Germany
Jul 11
Gregory Porter
Stadtpark-Open-Air-Bühne, Hamburg Germany
Jul 15
Gregory Porter
Kulturinsel Wöhmühle, Erlangen Germany
Jul 18
Gregory Porter
Pori Jazz 2025, Pori Finland
Jul 20
Gregory Porter
Media Online Management GmbH & Co. KG Classic Open Air, Berlin Germany
Jul 22
Gregory Porter
Kurpark, Wiesbaden Germany
Jul 26
Gregory Porter
Jazz in Marciac 2025, Marciac France
Aug 16
Gregory Porter
Country Club Hills Amphitheater, Country Club Hills United States
Aug 17
Gregory Porter
Stockbridge Jazz Festival 2025, Stockbridge United States
Sep 12
Gregory Porter
The Journey of Jazz Cruise 2025 Hosted by Gregory Porter & Marcus Miller, Chinatown De Vancouver Canada
Oct 20
Gregory Porter
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney Australia
Oct 22
Gregory Porter
Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brisbane Australia
Oct 24
Gregory Porter
Hamer Hall, Melbourne Australia
Oct 25
Gregory Porter
Regal Theatre, Subiaco Australia
Jan 18
Gregory Porter
NOSPR, Katowice Poland
Jan 20
Gregory Porter
O2 universum, Praha 9 Czechia
