Esperanza Spalding theartsdesk Q&A

Monday July 11, 2011

From theartsdesk

theartsdesk Q&A: Musician Esperanza Spalding
By: Peter Quinn

Bassist, vocalist and composer, Esperanza Spalding is one of the most exciting things to happen to jazz in recent memory. Born and raised on what she has called “the other side of the tracks” in Portland, Oregon, Spalding grew up in a single-parent home. Encouraged by her mother, she began playing violin at the age of five and gained a place in the Chamber Music Society of Oregon. By the time she left, 10 years later, she had risen to the position of concertmaster. By then, she had also discovered the bass, and all of the non-classical avenues that the instrument opened up for her: funk, hip-hop, jazz.

Following a challenging period of study at Portland State University – at 16 she was the youngest bass player in her year – it was at Boston’s Berklee College of Music where she really found her feet. In 2005, aged just 20, she began teaching at Berklee, making her one of its youngest ever faculty members.

Spalding’s 2006 debut album, Junjo, subtly interleaved influences from jazz, hip hop, folk, classical and Brazilian music. Her major label follow-up, Esperanza (2008), went to the top of Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart. Inspired by the classical training of her younger years, last year’s Chamber Music Society achieved a beautiful balance between the improvised and the through-composed.

The 26-year-old has already worked with some of the greatest names in jazz, including pianist Michel Camilo, guitarist Pat Metheny and sax player Joe Lovano. She has performed at the White House (twice) and the Nobel Prize Ceremony in Oslo, appeared in an ad campaign for Banana Republic and on the ‘Late Show’ with David Letterman. In 2009 she picked up the Jazz Journalists Association’s award for Up and Coming Artist of the Year. Earlier this year she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist – the first ever jazz musician to win this award. For her forthcoming album, Radio Music Society, she’s been working with hip-hop artist/producer, Q-Tip. Esperanza Spalding talks to theartsdesk.

To read the interview click here

Radio Song (clip)	1:01	Esperanza Spalding
Black Gold	5:17	Esperanza Spalding

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Watch what's on

*Radio Music Society Trailer
Esperanza Spalding at the Oscars
Black Gold
Esperanza Spalding at the Nobel Prize Ceremony

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