GREGORY PORTER BECOMES FIRST JAZZ ARTIST TO BREAK INTO UK TOP 5 FOR OVER A DECADE with new album 'Take Me To The Alley'

Image courtesy of Charlie Gates

This generation’s most successful jazz and soul singer-songwriter, the man in the hat, Gregory Porter, makes chart history today with his newly-released album 'Take Me To The Alley', which becomes the first jazz record to break into the Top 5 for over ten years.

Released last Friday, the critically-acclaimed 'Take Me To The Alley', was met by 4 and 5 star album reviews across the board in the national press, and becomes Porter's highest chart position yet.

This extreme lift in popularity puts Gregory safely above current pop albums from the likes of Justin Bieber, Jess Glynne and Adele and just behind Drake, Beyonce, Skepta and Radiohead. It is the first time a jazz album has been in the Top 5 of the charts since Jamie Cullum with 'Catching Tales' in 2005.

Commenting on this impressive achievement, Porter stated: "I'm very grateful for the success of Take Me To The Alley. The chart position it's reached around the world is very exciting, and its success is an example of the acceptance of my music. I am very thankful."

This level of public affection has seen Porter become an adopted national treasure in this country, having performed for the Queen multiple times, and graced the stages of the UK's best venues and summer festivals. The singer recently featured as the only musical performance on BBC1's 'Attenborough at 90' and joined the country's best performers on BBC2's 'Shakespeare Live!'. He also led a chorus of music stars, including Mumford and Sons, in a moving version of Prince's 'Purple Rain' on BBC2's 'Later with Jools'.‎

Last month saw Porter complete an extensive sold-out UK Headline Tour, opening and closing at prestigious London venues The Royal Albert Hall and Hammersmith Apollo. And after a show-stopping performance at Glastonbury last year, Gregory returns to the UK's biggest music festival next month to perform on the Pyramid Stage, on Sunday 26th June at 1pm, on the bill with such artists as Muse, Adele, Coldplay and Beck who also perform headline slots at this year's festival.

Porter stated: "Glastonbury has a tradition of being open to all types of music but it's really exciting to be performing on the main stage. The audience response to my performance last year really blew me away - the incredible musical atmosphere - I'm really looking forward to performing again and bringing my music back to Glastonbury this summer."