August Wilson Center
February 22
8 p.m.
It’s clear that the entire world can’t stop buzzing about Queen Bey and Adele, but Sunday night’s 59th annual Grammy Awards also spotlighted the talents of prolific musicians such as Gregory Porter.
Fresh on the heels of nabbing the event’s coveted Best Jazz Vocal Album award for Take Me To The Alley, the gifted singer, songwriter and actor will grace the August Wilson Center stage for one very special night.
Sunday’s announcement marked the second Grammy win for the powerhouse vocalist, whose 2014 album, Liquid Spirit, also took the top accolade in the same category.
Porter’s fourth studio album, Take Me to the Alley was released in 2016 via Blue Note Records. Produced by his mentor Kamau Kenyatta—who has worked with jazz legends such as Hubert Laws, Earl Klugh and Donald Byrd—the album showcases Porter’s universal songwriting strengths, effortlessly fuses jazz, pop and R&B, and redefines the role of the jazz singer.
One of the most significant voices on the international music scene, Porter will delight fans with his vocal virtuosity, soulful grooves, velvety delivery, and authentic mix of jazz and R&B.
Growing up in California, Porter was exposed to early influences such as the Bakersfield Southern Gospel Sound and Nat King Cole by his mother, who was a minister. Now based in Brooklyn, Porter started his career singing in small jazz clubs, and later met Kenyatta while attending San Diego State University.
A versatile performer, Porter also starred in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of the hit musical, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues, which was nominated for prestigious Tony and Drama Desk Awards.
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