REVIEW Esperanza Spalding Earns Standing Ovation in DC

Tuesday October 05, 2010

From The Washington Post

In Concert: Esperanza Spalding
By Mike Joyce

Esperanza Spalding had the best seat in the house at the Lincoln Theatre on Sunday night. Shedding her jacket and scarf moments after the lights went down, the 25 year old jazz bassist-vocalist sat at a corner table onstage, tossed off her heels and poured herself a glass of wine. A few sips later, still barefoot, she led her Chamber Music Society ensemble through an imaginatively arranged collection of tunes that not only showcased her remarkable vocal range but her gift for infusing ballads with a soulful or dreamy aura.

While the show opened on a theatrical note, what immediately won the crowd over was sheer musicality. When singing or scatting, Spalding often reveled in the tricky intervals associated with be-bop, but her phrasing was more syncopated and spirited, sometimes bringing to mind the likes of Al Jarreau and Flora Purim. When playing upright bass, Spalding seldom took on the conventional role of underpinning the chord progressions. Instead, she used the instrument to frame and echo her vocals or to provide a resounding pulse for modal interludes. Meanwhile, the cozy ensemble sound (bass, viola, violin and cello) grew in size and texture, with the addition of vocalists, keyboards and drums

To read the full article click here

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

[+] open in new window

Watch what's on

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

[+] open in new window

News Archive

IMN - International Music Network