REVIEW Esperanza Spalding's "Chamber Music Society"

Wednesday September 01, 2010

from guardian.co.uk

As a former classical violinist, jazz bass-player and pop-savvy vocalist, Esperanza Spalding has a lot on her side. This unusual venture joins two trios representing different aspects of her past: a jazz one featuring Herbie Hancockish pianist Leo Genovese and drum star Terri Lyne Carrington, and a classical strings group. Wistful reveries spun by Spalding’s airy voice are balanced by bluesier tracks (the shrewd touch of producer Gil Goldstein is apparent). The ballad Apple Blossom finds Spalding duetting with Milton Nascimento, and some superb whispery scat shared by the leader and Gretchen Parlato make Winter Sun and Jobim’s Inútil Paisagem the standout tracks. The jazzy exchanges between Spalding, Genovese and Carrington on Short and Sweet suggest that a little more straight trio playing would have been welcome, but the way the strings scythe in under Spalding’s rising voice on Knowledge of Good and Evil, or canter in unison with her on Genovese’s Latin swinger Chacarera, reinforce this album’s sense of relaxed, cross-idiom balance.

To read the review on The Guardian website and read other Guardian reviews of IMN artists 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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