Esperanza Spalding Performs for Sold-Out Crowd at Hometown Benefit

Thursday August 25, 2011

From Oregon Music News

Esperanza Spalding comes to town, Gerding sells out for American Music Program Benefit
By: Tom D’Antoni

It would have been a special night even if Esperanza Spalding hadn’t won a Grammy. She was already the poster-girl for a generation of Jazz musicians molded by Thara Memory and the others who have similar programs in Portland.

Tuesday she gave back. A sold-out Gerding Theater saw a lineup of Portland favorites, topped off with performances by Spalding in duet with keyboardist Janice Scroggins and then playing with her mentor Thara Memory’s Pacific Crest Orchestra from his American Music Program…

…There were several things going on at the same time as they played Charles Tolliver’s “Abscretions” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” before launching into Spalding’s “Hold On Me” (arranged by Memory) and then the capper of the evening, “City of Roses,” which she recorded with them earlier in the day and which will be included on her next, long-awaited album Radio Music Society. Proceeds from that tune will come back to Memory’s program.

The first thing going on was the music. Other observers were thrilled by the level of musicianship and the intensity with which it was played, especially “City of Roses.” One industry professional predicted it would find great success.

The second thing that was going on was civic pride. Portlanders are rightfully proud of both Memory’s programs and Spalding, their favorite daughter. If there was every any doubt that Portland is fortunate to have Memory as a mentor, teacher, composer and musician, and busting their buttons over the success of Spalding and the others who have followed her, it was brought into sharp focus on Tuesday night.

There were tears of joy.

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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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