Esperanza Spalding Donates Dress to Smithsonian

Wednesday October 19, 2011

From The Washington Examiner

Esperanza says ‘yes’ to giving the Smithsonian her dress
By: Nikki Schwab and Katy Adams

It was hard to believe that Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Esperanza Spalding didn’t prepare the remarks she made Monday, as she donated her 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony dress to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. “I didn’t really expect to speak, so I hope I can improvise something of value,” the 26-year-old said, before wowing the crowd by quoting Duke Ellington and Mary Lou Williams and proving herself a colorful storyteller.

“When I found out last minute that the president would like me to come and perform I was in a place where I couldn’t get a gown, I didn’t have anything to wear,” she began. “Being the Oregonians that we are, [we are] very hands on, crunchy, in the house,” Spalding said. Her mother procured the long red gown and altered it the night before Spalding headed to Norway.

“So the night of the performance I’m getting the dress out to put it on and all the sudden I notice all these oily fingerprints all over the dress because my mom only uses natural moisurizers,” Spalding said. “She contributed too,” she joked. (The smudges, for the record, were cleaned off before the performance).

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

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

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