REVIEW Esperanza Spalding's Charlotte Debut

Saturday September 25, 2010

From All About Jazz

Esperanza Spalding Chamber Music Society at Knight Theater
By Mark F. Turner

Having had little exposure to Esperanza Spalding’s music, some questions were answered by her visit to the Knight Theater on September 24th. Part of Charlotte’s two-day Sunset Jazz Festival, it was the prodigy-turned jazz phenom’s first appearance in the city. The concert dovetailed with Chamber Music Society (Heads Up International, 2010), the young singer/bassist’s third release, and with more than three quarters of the 1150 seats filled, the venue was abuzz with anticipation.

At the far right hand corner of the stage with curtains drawn rested some curiously positioned furniture— an armchair, a lamp, and a table adorned with a wine bottle and glass. The sound of soft string music began to fill the air just before Spalding unobtrusively entered from the corner to the crowd’s delight. Like a scene of a person arriving home from a hard day’s work, she proceeded to pull off her coat and shoes, poured herself a glass of wine, took a couple of sips, and relaxed in comfort as the chamber music wafted quietly.

After taking a few moments to enjoy her music and drink, the curtains opened to reveal a live string ensemble consisting of a violinist, violist, and cellist. The was the cue as Spalding gracefully sat up, with glass hand, and joined the group to play the massive double bass which was positioned at the trio’s center. The appropriate union now formed, they continued the stirring composition and affectively set the tone for the remainder of evening. This was not going to be a typical jazz or classical concert.

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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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