It is announced today that multi-Grammy-winning singer Gregory Porter will open this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival with a headline show at the 2000-capacity Big Top on Tuesday 5th May. Porter also reprises his role as Artistic Curator and has been involved in programming a series of artists for the festival.

Undeniably one of the best voices of our generation, Porter has also revealed today that he will release his sixth studio album All Rise on Decca Records/Blue Note in April, and will kick off his much-anticipated UK tour of the record at Cheltenham.

One of Porter’s picks is American vocalist and composer Lizz Wright, who will perform at the Everyman Theatre on Friday 8th May. Wright will present songs from her latest critically-acclaimed album, 2017’s Grace, and has also been invited by Porter to guest during his show at The Big Top on the opening day of the festival.

Porter has also selected two unmissable shows at the Jazz Arena on Friday 8th May from Chicago-based drummer and producer Makaya McCraven, who won ‘International Jazz Act of the Year’ at the Jazz FM Awards 2019, and trailblazing US trumpeter Keyon Harrold, plus a concert from influential post-bop saxophonist and composer Gary Bartz. Bartz’s band for this show, which takes place on Saturday 9thMay, will be London 6-piece Maisha, widely regarded as the UK’s leading spiritual jazz outfit. 

These names join Bebel Gilberto, a double bill of Blind Boys of Alabama and Amadou and Mariam, and David Liebman/Randy Brecker/Marc Copland Quintet, who were announced at the end of last year.

The full Cheltenham Jazz Festival programme will be revealed on Wednesday 12th February. Tickets go on sale to Members on 26th February and General sale is on 4th March.

5 - 10 May 2020

Cheltenham Jazz Festival

In association with BBC Radio 2

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