An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time, Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generation’s most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley, the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit. Yet in his remarkable career, Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life, and his new music reflects the singer’s continued and mindful growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success. Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield, California, where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters. “The intensity of the road has caused a desire for me to be grounded,†Porter explains.
Liquid Spirit which followed the critically-acclaimed and GRAMMY-nominated albums Water (2010) and Be Good (2012) quickly grew into a global phenomenon, selling a million albums worldwide and becoming the most streamed jazz album of all-time with over 20 million streams. The album has sold Platinum in the U.K. and Germany, and Gold in France, The Netherlands, and Austria. In the U.S. Porter made his first-ever national TV appearances on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live while both ESQUIRE and NPR Music declared him “America’s Next Great Jazz Singer.†Liquid Spirit also won Porter his first GRAMMY Award in 2014 for Best Jazz Vocal Album while also earning him a Best Traditional R&B Performance nomination for his affecting ballad “Hey Laura.â€
In the Fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley. As he’s done on his previous three albums, Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and political. His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University (Porter began his college years playing football on a full athletic scholarship before a shoulder injury diverted him into a music career). It was through Kenyatta’s mentorship that Porter’s professional musical career began. “Kamau has been most instrumental in taking what I have and refining it,†Porter observes. “He’s been great at offering encouragement to what I already have artistically.â€
Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna’s beautifully constructed third studio album Chapters further showcases her contemporary pop, acoustic folk and soulful R&B sounds, which have won her comparisons with the likes of Feist, Adele, and Norah Jones. This brand new album includes the current single “Crush†featuring global superstar, Usher. Chapters follows her 2013 album, Nocturnal.
The charismatic star has received accolades from the likes of Billboard, NPR, Elle, NY Times, Vibe, Marie Claire and more. She has also performed high-profile sets at the Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo festivals and has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Conan and Last Call with Carson Daly.