Gregory Porter to release Christmas Wish album ahead of Royal Albert Hall concert

Grammy Award winning singer Gregory Porter has announced his first ever Christmas album, to be released on Friday 3 November via Blue Note/Decca Records. Entitled Christmas Wish, the record is a loving tribute the great songwriters, singers and interpreters including Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Dinah Washington and Nat King Cole. And, in addition to this list of world class names, Porter himself has added to the Christmas song catalogue with three original tracks.

Backed by his long-time band and produced by consistent collaborator, drummer/multi-instrumentalist/arranger Troy Miller, with orchestral contributions recorded at Abbey Road, the album features interpretations of carols, jazz-age standards and soulful 1960s deep-cuts including ‘Silent Night’, ‘Little Drummer Boy’, Marvin Gaye’s ‘Purple Snowflakes’, Stevie Wonder’s ‘Someday At Christmas’ and Frank Loesser’s ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?, which features a powerhouse guest vocal from double Grammy-winning sensation Samara Joy.

Porter’s love of the Christmas season can be heard on his trio of self-penned songs, ‘Christmas Wish’, ‘Heart For Christmas’ and first single, ‘Everything’s Not Lost’, which is released today. This elegant piano ballad is Porter’s persuasive plea to remember those less fortunate than ourselves, as he explains: “I'm always thinking of balance. That has been instilled in me and it keeps coming up in a lot of my music. At your highest, at your greatest, at your most pleasant time, don't forget about other people who are suffering.”

Porter sets out on a global tour with his band, and returns to London’s Royal Albert Hall (after three sold-out shows there earlier this year) for a special performance on 13 December.

Listen to the first single here and for more information visit www.gregoryporter.com