Gregory Porter unveils charming cover of Nat King Cole song 'Smile' - premiere

Jazz star is preparing to release an album that pays homage to one of his greatest influences

Gregory Porter has revealed his video for 'Smile' - a cover of Nat King Cole's classic song (Erik Umphery)

Gregory Porter has revealed a beautiful cover of Nat King Cole's beloved song "Smile", which you can watch first via The Independent.

Porter, one of the most successful jazz artists of his generation, is preparing to release his new album Nat King Cole & Me via Decca/Blue Note records on 27 October.

Produced by six-time Grammy award-winning conductor Vince Mendoza, the record is a deeply personal tribute from Porter to the artist who inspired his love of music.

Watch the video for "Smile" below:

Porter told The Independent: "When I was a child, my father wasn't in my life. Nat's words in the song 'Smile': 'Smile though your heart is aching' were words of comfort and felt like fatherly advice to me. 'Smile' is for me, similar to my song 'No Love Dying'.

"It's a message of optimism and irrepressible love. Vince Mendoza captured that eloquence and sophisticated beauty of that song and arrangement and I'm very excited about the video and presenting it to the public. It's beautiful.

"The legacy of Nat King Cole is a legacy of extraordinary music. For me, clarity of tone, sincerity, style, eloquence and elagance - he was a true master of his craft as a piano player and as a singer."

Blue Note records head Don Was added: "Gregory Porter is the deepest, most soulful and most skilled vocalist on the face of the Earth. I've seen him perform dozens of times over the last seven years and have been consistently swept away by his music.

"It's not hyperbolic to call this new album [Nat King Cole & Me] a masterpiece: Gregory and the orchestra have created magnificent interpretations of some of popular music's greatest songs. In doing so, they have also cast some welcome new light on the work of Nat Cole - bringing his oeuvre to a whole new generation of listeners."

Nat King Cole & Me, the new album from Gregory Porter, is out on 27 October via Decca/Blue Note