Music lovers’ Christmas wishes were answered last year with the release of Gregory Porter’s first ever Christmas album, ‘Christmas Wish’. Things are about to get even better, as the velvet-voiced baritone releases his Deluxe Edition, out on Blue Note/Decca on 6th December 2024, with additional, newly-recorded tracks. The first of these is Gregory’s take on the beloved James Bond theme song, ‘We Have All the Time in the World’, with UK producers Cam Blackwood & Swindle, out today. First sung by Louis Armstrong in 1969, it only became a hit single 25 years later, in 1994. Today, 30 years after that, Porter brings his distinctive, warm tones to the timeless track. Standing out from the rest of the album, here we see Gregory working with new musicians, with them bringing a new sound, the glittering instrumentation breathing new life into a familiar tune, while still paying homage to the original.
Gregory Porter says of the single, “I chose this song because at this time of year we need nothing more, nothing less, only love. This powerful message of the lyric is just extraordinary to me, and an honour to bring to the people, refreshed and renewed.”
‘Christmas Wish’, which charted at No.4 in the Official UK Album Charts, is a loving tribute to Gregory’s favourite time of year. It also honours great songwriters, singers and interpreters, alongside Louis Armstrong, including Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Dinah Washington and Nat King Cole. In addition to this list of world class names, here Mr Porter himself adds to the Christmas catalogue with the personal contribution of three self-penned songs, which have since soundtracked fans’ Christmases around the world.
Backed by his long-time band and produced by repeat collaborator Troy Miller (aside from today’s single), with orchestral contributions recorded at Abbey Road, the main album features inspired interpretations of carols, jazz-age standards and soulful sixties 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 triple Grammy-winning sensation Samara Joy. The Deluxe album also includes Troy Miller’s version of ‘We Have All the Time in the World’, bringing his classic sound to the moving lyrics.
The theme of sharing and caring at Christmas, and the sense of renewal and revival that comes when the year draws to a close, is all here in Porter’s trio of original songs, ‘Christmas Wish’, ‘Heart For Christmas’ and ‘Everything’s Not Lost’.
Grammy-winning Gregory continues to bring his talents and vibes to the stage as he tours the globe extensively throughout the year: Tour – Gregory Porter Music. He returns to London’s Royal Albert Hall for yet another trio of shows in 2025 (after four sold-out dates at the prestigious venue just last year), as well as major cities across the UK (see below for details).
ABOUT GREGORY PORTER:
Gregory has become known as one of the UK’s favourite contemporary American jazz and soul artists. His last six albums have all reached the Top 10, with ‘Christmas Wish’ (2023), ‘All Rise’ (2020) ‘Nat King Cole & Me’ (2017) and ‘Take Me To The Alley’ (2016) hitting the Top 5. A double Grammy-winner (Best Jazz Vocal Album for ‘Liquid Spirit’ (2014) and Best Jazz Vocal Album for ‘Take Me To The Alley’) and seven-time Grammy nominee, the singer and songwriter has amassed cumulative streams of 1.6 billion and counting.
Since breaking through almost a decade ago with ‘Liquid Spirit’, Gregory has become a beloved part of the British cultural firmament. The Californian cat-in-the-hat has played at numerous festivals, including Glastonbury (where he wowed the Pyramid Stage) and Radio 2’s Live in Hyde Park. He performed multiple times for the late HM Queen Elizabeth II, most recently as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and has also appeared before HM King Charles III.
His laidback wit and effortless style has seen him become a TV favourite, with multiple appearances on Graham Norton, Later… with Jools Holland, Strictly Come Dancing as well as Never Mind The Buzzcocks. Gregory is also a natural host – he presented his own series, BBC Four’s Gregory Porter’s Popular Voices and YouTube cooking show The Porterhouse. Then there’s his podcast, The Hang, on which he was joined by distinguished guests including as Annie Lennox and his duet-buddy Jeff Goldblum. And perhaps most important of all, Porter became the first celebrity to sing a lullaby on CBeebies Bedtime Stories and lent his distinctive voice to children’s BBC favourite Numberblocks.
The dance music world loves Gregory, too. Claptone’s remix of his classic track ‘Liquid Spirit’ became the hit of summer ’15 and the Most Shazamed track in Ibiza. Amongst his many collaborators are Disclosure, which whom he released ‘Holding On’, the lead single from the duo’s second studio album, ‘Caracal’. He performed the track live at BBC Radio 1’s ‘Ibiza 20’ event at Ushuaia Beach Hotel. Talk about range – in every sense of the word
Gregory Porter’s ‘Christmas Wish Deluxe Edition’ will be released Friday 6th December 2024
via Blue Note/Decca Records.
New single ‘We Have All the Time in the World’ is OUT NOW
Pre-order the album here
TRACKLIST
- Silent Night
- Christmas Waltz
- Everything’s Not Lost (Written by Gregory Porter)
- Someday at Christmas
- Purple Snowflakes
- Little Drummer Boy
- What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? Feat. Samara Joy
- Christmas Wish (Written By Gregory Porter)
- Cradle in Bethlehem
- Do You Hear What I Hear?
- Christmas Time is Here
- Heart for Christmas (Written by Gregory Porter)
- We Have All the Time in the World (Cam Blackwood & Swindle Version)
- Christmas Will Really Be Christmas
- We Have All the Time in the World (Troy Miller)
Christmas Wish was recorded between Sear Sound Studio in New York City and Crossways Studio in London and features Gregory Porter’s friend and long-term pianist Chip Crawford on Piano, Emmanuel Harrold on Drums and Percussion, Gregoire Maret on Harmonica, Jahmal Nichols on Bass, Ondre Pivec on Hammond organ and Tivon Pennicott on Flute and Soprano/Tenor Saxophone and Backing vocals from Stephanie Fisher-Alvarenga, Chris Ashley Anthony and Sheherazade Holman. With orchestral contributions from the Kingdom Orchestra, recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.
GR
EGORY PORTER TOUR 2024/25: Tour – Gregory Porter Music
