Grammy award-winning jazz maestro Gregory Porter has made his eagerly-awaited return to the studio with his sixth studio album All Rise. Produced by Troy Miller (Laura Mvula, Jamie Cullum, Emili Sandé), strings for the record were recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road in Studio One. Sessions were engineered by our very own Lewis Jones, assisted by Matt Jones.
Following on from 2017’s Nat King Cole & Me album, Porter’s forthcoming record marks a return to his beloved original songwriting which is set to a stirring mix of jazz, soul, blues and gospel. Revival is the first track to be released as a single, heavily infused gospel sound which sets the tone with Gregory’s signature hand-clapping. "Yes, you could say that I went big," says Gregory about the track, which features a handpicked horn section and 10-member choir. He explains, “For me, it’s the message of walking into this life and having some fear and self-doubt, and the point where you grab onto something that you know is real, the silent and real things, the truth… Once you can wrap onto the truth then this fearlessness comes.”
As Porter worked out this album’s direction, he looked inward and at the current state of the world and arrived at the most important meaning found in the title, ALL RISE. Porter explained: “We hear that phrase when presidents or judges come into the room, but I’m thinking all of us rise — not just one person being exalted. We are all exalted and lifted up by love. This is my political thought and my real truth. It comes from my personality, my mother’s personality, the personality of the blues, and of black people. It’s this idea of making do with the scraps, of resurrection and ascension, and of whatever the current situation is, it can get better through love.”
Tracklisting for All Rise
Concorde Dad Gone Thing Revival If Love Is Overrated Faith In Love Merchants of Paradise Long List of Troubles Mr. Holland Modern Day Apprentice Everything You Touch Is Gold Phoenix Merry Go Round Real Truth (bonus track 1) You Can Join My Band (bonus track 2) Thank You
