Gregory Porter to Join Star-Studded Roster for First Ever Blue Note “Jazz at Sea”

Cunard is thrilled to announce that Grammy® Award-winning singer and songwriter, Gregory Porter, will be performing on board Queen Mary 2 during the first-ever Blue Note jazz themed cruise, which will debut 29 October 2015.Porter, described by The New York Times as “a jazz singer of thrilling presence, a booming baritone with a gift for earthy refinement and soaring uplift,” will be joining the star-studded roster of fellow Blue Note musicians, featuring: Grammy® Award-winning jazz pianist and record producer Robert Glasper, acclaimed trumpet player Keyon Harrold, tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Kendrick Scott.”We are so very pleased to include Gregory Porter in what is an all-star list of venerable jazz musicians and world-class entertainers,” states Richard Meadows, President, Cunard, North America. “This collaboration with Blue Note will be truly memorable for our guests and will give them a preview of more to come with Blue Note in 2016.”Porter, who signed with Blue Note Records in 2013, recently took home his second Jazz FM award for “International Jazz Artist of the Year”, and is most known for his third album, Liquid Spirit, which won the 2014 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album and reached top 10 on the UK album chart.This special Transatlantic Crossing will also feature several other accomplished jazz musicians including: Alan Hton, Fredrico Pena, EJ Strickland, Mark Colenburg, Michael Aaberg, and Michal Moreno. In addition to these celebrated musicians, Don Was, president of Blue Note Records, who himself is a celebrated musician and Grammy® Award winning producer, will conduct special “Behind the Music” interviews and Q&As for guests traveling on this special Transatlantic Crossing. Natalie Cole, who was previously scheduled to perform, has had to cancel due to personal reasons.