Though Gregory 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.” His sixth studio album, ALL RISE, was released August 28.
Up Next in November 2020
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Queen Naija
With the recent arrival of her debut album missunderstood, Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Queen Naija has cemented her status as one of R&B’s most compelling young stars. Hailed as “the first soul star of the social media generation” by The New York Times, the 25-year-old Detroit native has ...
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Evan Giia
Every EVAN GIIA song is a pure exchange of energy, powerful enough to lift the darkest mood. Classically trained as an opera singer, the Brooklyn-based artist brings both raw passion and precision to her vocal performance, endlessly heightening the impact of her sculpted approach to electronic po...
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Programs at Home: Tiana Major9
Like a sonic north star, major 9 chords hold down countless favorites and staples in the jazz canon. In a very similar fashion, Tiana Major9 roots her bold blend of future-facing R&B, enduring soul, and hip-hop attitude in boundless jazz eloquence twisted up with saucy East London inflection and...
