Porter may be from the US but has been unofficially adopted by the Great British Public.
The gentle giant is releasing his beautiful new collection of Nat King Cole covers and will treat UK audiences to a spellbinding preview on the chat show this evening.
To make it even more special, he is accompanied by Hollywood star Jeff Goldblum on piano.
Gregory told Express Online: “I’m a big fan of Jeff’s movies so to learn he was a fan of my music was really special. Jeff is really talented and a great pianist – I really enjoyed playing with him and hope we can do it again sometime soon.”
The very special duet will be broadcast on BBC1 tonight at 10.35pm. The two stars will perform the classic ballad Mona Lisa.
Porter’s new album will thrill fans who have long begged him to record some of the idol’s most iconic tracks but Porter has his own personal reasons, too.
He said: “At five or six years old, Nat’s music filled a void in me. My father wasn’t in my life and wasn’t showing interest in me or raising me and Nat’s words were the life lessons, words of wisdom and fatherly advice I needed.”
Porter added: “I had two dreams really: to record the music of Nat King Cole and to record with a great orchestra, and that’s happened. It’s also personal in the way it’s the music of my mother and my household. It’s encouraging music to a child and to a man growing up. It influenced my career and style of writing.
“He was one of a kind. He left such great music – such beautiful things to listen to that you can’t help but be influenced by that extraordinary timbre, style, and ultimate.”
GREGORY PORTER: ‘I WOKE THE QUEEN UP ONE MORNING SINGING OUTSIDE HER ROOM’
Recorded at London’s AIR Studios, the 12-track album also features some of Gregory’s favourite Nat King Cole tunes including ‘L-O-V-E’ and ‘Nature Boy’.
There is also a Nat-inspired arrangement of Gregory’s own song ‘When Love Was King’, originally released on his million-selling hit album, ‘Liquid Spirit’.
GREGORY PORTER’S NEW ALBUM NAT KING COLE & ME IS OUT ON OCTOBER 27
Daily Express :: Entertainment Feed
