Written in destiny

Veneto Jazz brings Gregory Porter to La Fenice
by Giuseppe Mormile

Star of the 16th Venice Jazz Festival, Porter in Venice for his only summer date in Italy.

Gregory Porter will play at Fenice Theatre on July 9. His warm, baritone voice made him one of the most influential performers in the worlds of jazz, soul, and gospel, and popularized modern jazz to a wider audience, all the while collecting several awards and accolades, including two Grammys. As goes for other ‘crossover’ artists, Porter’s talent goes beyond jazz, and his concerts regularly fill the most prestigious music halls. Born in California, Gregory Porter studied at San Diego State on a football scholarship. If it weren’t for a shoulder injury, he might have never become the Gregory Porter we know. In Brooklyn, where he moved, he met musician Kamau Kenyatta, the first to believe in his musical career, and the rest is history. In 2010, Porter got his first Grammy nomination for Water. His third album, Liquid Spirit of 2013, placed second in the Top Jazz Albums Billboard ranking and went on to won the 2014 Grammy for Best Vocal Jazz Album.

Liquid Spirit is also one of the most streamed jazz albums ever, with over 20 million hits. His later Take Me to the Alley of 2016 includes a version of Holding On. Although he loves original songs, Gregory often goes back to his roots, as he did in his 2017 tribute album Nat King Cole & Me. His latest album, Still Rising, came out in 2021, and is a collection of the artist’s greatest hits, cover, and amazing duets At the Venice Jazz Festival, Gregory Porter will be one of the many stars who performed at Fenice Theatre, sharing with his audience a rich legacy of history, music, and recognition. From Winton Marsalis to Burt Bacharach, Bobby McFerrin to Keith Jarrett, just to name a few, the Venice Jazz Festival reserved the main hall at Fenice for the brightest stars of international music. Gregory Porter will be no exception in his only Italian date of his tour. This will be an amazing event for both those who know and love his unmistakable voice and for those who will see him for the first time. We are honoured to add another precious piece of musical history to our tapestry of amazing art.

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