Following on from 2017’s Nat King Cole & Me album, Gregory Porter’s forthcoming album All Rise, due April 17 from Decca/Blue Note, marks a return to original songwriting.
The first single from it, Revival, can be heard right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyxVT0WPsXc
Says Gregory: “For me, it’s the message of walking into this life and having some fear and self-doubt, and the point where you grab onto something that you know is real, the silent and real things, the truth… Once you can grab onto the truth then this fearlessness comes.”
Porter will open this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival with a headline show at the 2000-capacity Big Top on Tuesday, May 5. He will also reprise his role as the festival’s Artistic Curator and has been involved in programming a series of artists for the festival.
One of Porter’s picks is American vocalist and composer Lizz Wright, who will perform at the Everyman Theatre on Friday, May 8. She has also been invited by Porter to guest during his show at The Big Top on the festival’s opening day.
Porter has also selected two shows at the Jazz Arena on May 8 from Chicago-based drummer and producer Makaya McCraven, who won ‘International Jazz Act of the Year’ at the 2019 Jazz FM Awards, and trailblazing US trumpeter Keyon Harrold, plus a concert from influential post-bop saxophonist and composer Gary Bartz. Bartz’s band for this show, which takes place on Saturday, May 9, will be London six-piece Maisha, widely regarded as the UK’s leading spiritual jazz outfit. The full Cheltenham Jazz Festival programme will be revealed on Wednesday, February 12. Tickets go on sale to Members on February 26. General sale is on March 4.
Porter’s full UK live schedule:
May 5th
Cheltenham Jazz Festival www.cheltenhamfestivals.com
9th
Manchester Arena
10th
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
11th
Leeds First Direct Arena
13th
Glasgow SEC Hydro
14th
Newcastle Utilita Arena
16th
Birmingham Resorts World Arena
17th
Hull Bonus Arena
19th/20th/22nd&
London Royal Albert Hall
25th
Bournemouth International Centre
26th
Brighton Centre
Tickets on sale now, available from Ticketline.co.uk or venues