Jazz vocalist Gregory Porter has announced the postponement of a planned performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., a decision prompted by a recent rebranding of the venue under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, now chairman of the board. This move,resulting in the center being referred to as the “Trump Kennedy Center,” has led Porter,along with Béla Fleck and the Washington National Opera,to reconsider their association with the institution.
Jazz vocalist Gregory Porter has postponed a planned performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. after the venue was rebranded by former President Donald Trump, who appointed himself chairman of the board. The cultural institution is now being referred to as Trump Kennedy Center.
“It’s always been an honor to perform at the Kennedy Center, but not so much anymore,” Porter explained in a phone interview, detailing why he, along with banjoist Béla Fleck and the Washington National Opera, decided to distance themselves from the institution. “I’ve pushed my concert back three and a half years,” he added, referencing the end of the current presidential term.
Porter spent the holiday season with family instead, and is now embarking on a world tour, which includes a stop in Prague. The two-time Grammy winner will perform at the O2 universum on Tuesday, January 20. He hopes to bring a message of optimism to audiences, despite his concerns about the current political climate in the United States. “A lot of people are exhausted by the current situation – not just me. I love my country and what it represents, but things can’t stay this way. I still believe this will pass,” he said.
Known for his signature hat that covers his forehead, ears, and neck, Porter will offer Prague audiences a setlist primarily featuring songs from his albums *Liquid Spirit* to *All Rise*, similar to his performance at the same venue two years ago.
Porter’s music blends jazz with elements of soul, gospel, and classic R&B. He’s backed by a five-piece band of highly skilled instrumentalists, seamlessly transitioning between upbeat tracks, tender ballads, and songs with political undertones, referencing the African American civil rights movement of the 1960s.
“I choose some songs because of the message I want to convey. ‘Take Me to the Alley’ or ‘No Love Dying’ aren’t just fun songs for me. I try to give the audience a feeling, an optimistic message. That’s the main reason I do this,” Porter explained, noting that most of his songs are about love.
“My mother always told me to believe in what I sing,” Porter recalled, paraphrasing advice she gave him on her deathbed. His stepmother, who raised eight children while working two jobs, passed away in 1992 when he was 21. His father left the family when Porter was young.
Porter recently paid tribute to his mother with the song “Good Goodbye”, which he recorded for the Netflix film *Goodbye, June*. The film, about a mother planning her own farewell, was directed by and stars Kate Winslet. “It was a deeply moving experience for me, and I connected with the film’s theme a lot. I understand the situation of a mother wanting to mend relationships before leaving this world. My mother felt the same way,” Porter said, contributing a simple piano ballad with strings to the film’s closing credits.
Porter has experienced loss in recent years. His brother was a victim of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the spring of 2020. While hospitalized and unconscious, Gregory Porter sang to him via video call. Later that year, he also lost his sister to cancer.
Despite the grief, Porter remains optimistic. “In situations like these, I always find the most strength in my family and loved ones. When I’m on stage, I often think of those who are no longer with us. I might remember them during ‘Water Under Bridges’ or ‘No Love Dying,’” he said, naming songs from his *Liquid Spirit* album. “I draw energy from that memory. Sometimes it moves me, even if I don’t always admit what exactly it is.”
Foto: Getty Images
Gregory Porter will be joined at the O2 universum by pianist Chip Crawford, saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, organist Ondřej Pivec, bassist Jahmal Nichols, and drummer Emanuel Harrold.
Porter’s musical journey began with singing in a Black church as a child. He later studied urban planning and played professional American football before a career-ending injury forced a change of course. As an adult, he worked in catering, a dog food factory, and as a cook in his brother’s New York bistro.
He began singing in jazz clubs in the evenings, but it took time to find his footing. He first gained recognition in the early 2000s with roles in the musicals *It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues* and later in the autobiographical one-man show *Nat King Cole and Me*. He didn’t release his debut album until 2010, approaching his fortieth birthday.
Porter’s star rose relatively late, but brilliantly. Within a few years, he sold millions of records – a feat rarely achieved in jazz. Today, he’s one of the most recognizable singers in the genre, having earned two Grammy Awards, most recently for his 2017 recording of “Take Me to the Alley.”
The key to Porter’s success is his warm, expressive baritone voice. While rooted in jazz, his phrasing often echoes Black pop music icons like Bill Withers and Stevie Wonder. His ability to connect with audiences through melodies that border on pop, honed through his musical theater work, blends with his gospel background, as seen when he gets the audience clapping during songs like “Liquid Spirit.”
Porter is particularly popular in the United Kingdom, where he has sold out the iconic Royal Albert Hall – with a capacity of over 5,000 – fifteen times. He has also performed at the Glastonbury Festival, sung for the late Queen Elizabeth II, and appeared on the dance competition *Strictly Come Dancing*.
Last year, millions of British viewers saw him on the television show *The Masked Singer*, where celebrities perform in disguise and the audience tries to guess their identities. Porter appeared as a crab. “Shortly after, we went on tour, and being on the show really boosted audience interest,” he said, noting that he was recognized on the street more often than before.
For Czech audiences, Porter’s collaboration with Czech organist Ondřej Pivec is particularly noteworthy. Pivec first made a name for himself on the local jazz scene before moving to New York and playing in Black churches. They met on stage at Žofín Palace during the Struny podzimu festival in 2013, and Porter subsequently invited Pivec to join his band. Pivec’s Hammond organ can be heard on Porter’s recent albums *All Rise* (2020) and *Christmas Wish* (2023).
Pivec and the band will also be touring with Porter, including the Prague stop. “We were just having breakfast together. Ondřej has been a full member of the band for years, and when he’s not working on his own projects, he’s with us. He brings great energy and has become an integral part of my sound. I really appreciate his contribution – he’s super important,” Porter said.
“The Hammond organ is a subtle but important part of the music. Plus, like me, Ondřej has a background in both jazz and church, so even though we look different and come from different places, we share the same roots,” he added.
Foto: Profimedia.cz
Czech organist Ondřej Pivec (far right in the photo) has been a member of Porter’s band for years.
Porter’s mother instilled in him a love of singing in the Black church from a young age. He later studied urban planning and played American football professionally, but a career-ending injury forced him to change paths. As an adult, he worked in catering, a dog food factory, and as a cook in his brother’s New York bistro.
He began singing in jazz clubs in the evenings, but it took time to find his voice. He first found success in the early 2000s with roles in the musicals *It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues* and later in the autobiographical one-man show *Nat King Cole and Me*. He didn’t release his debut album until 2010, just before turning forty.
Porter’s star rose relatively late, but spectacularly. Within a few years, he sold millions of records, a rare achievement in jazz. He’s now one of the most recognizable singers in the genre and has won two Grammy Awards, most recently for his 2017 recording of “Take Me to the Alley.”
Concert: Gregory Porter
January 20, 2026, O2 universum, Prague
