LONDON SOUL | Soul and Gospel Hits | Jason Nicholson-Porter (UK) and Vytautas Straižys
Soul and gospel · Jason Nicholson-Porter · Vytautas Straižys
A voice that has opened for Kirk Franklin, appeared on Emeli Sandé recordings and joined Jennifer Hudson's team on “The Voice UK” is coming to Utena. On 11 October, Utena Culture Centre will be filled with the energy of London soul and the power of one of Britain's most prominent gospel voices. Born in Jamaica and raised in London, Jason Nicholson-Porter is a British gospel performer, songwriter, vocal arranger and teacher with more than three decades of experience on stage. The wider UK audience discovered Jason in 2018, when he performed “Amazing Grace” in the blind auditions of “The Voice UK”. His voice was enough to make Jennifer Hudson turn her chair and invite Jason to join her team. Jason's three official “The Voice UK” performances, “Amazing Grace”, “Let It Be” and “When You Believe”, have already been watched more than two million times online. His “Let It Be” duet received an ovation from the audience, while “The Voice UK” itself described the performance as a vocal battle worthy of the world stage. But television is only one part of Jason's musical story. His voice can be heard on Emeli Sandé's album “Long Live the Angels”; he has sung backing vocals for Wretch 32, toured the UK with “X Factor” runner-up Rebecca Ferguson and presented his original music in South Africa. Jason has also opened concerts for global gospel legends Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, Karen Clark Sheard and Richard Smallwood. British publication “Keep The Faith” calls him a “golden voice” and one of the UK's strongest gospel vocalists. “The Guardian” mentions Jason's performance alongside Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond as an example of a true gospel show, one the audience not only hears but feels as it rises from its seats. His original song “Smile” was nominated for Best Song at the “Premier Gospel Awards”. In Utena, Jason will perform with pianist and “Downtown Piano Lab” founder Vytautas Straižys. The two performers will create an intimate concert of great emotional power: one exceptional voice, one piano and all the special acoustics of Utena Culture Centre. The programme will bring together soul, gospel and interpretations of popular music familiar to the audience, from sensitive ballads to climaxes that lift the voice, the hall and the audience. This is an unconventional choir evening. It is a live experience of London soul and gospel music in one of Utena's most beautiful concert venues. One voice. One piano. The acoustics of Utena Culture Centre.