This year, Spalding has been one of the biggest attractions at the prestigious Montreal Jazz Festival, which is used to attracting big names such as Diana Krall, Stevie Wonder, Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock and Ray Charles. Grammy award-winning Esperanza Spalding is a young a multi-lingual vocalist, bassist and composer who is making waves in the world of jazz.
The festival’s vice-president and artistic director André Ménard describes Spalding’s recent performance at the 10-day event as “taking it to another level”, fuelled with drama and imagination. On meeting Spalding, whose afro has become something of a trademark, it is difficult to believe that a slight 26-year old could possess a great voice with such depth. Even more so as she also maintains a seemingly effortless upright position playing bass, although she confidently says “all it takes is a little practice”. This year has seen Spalding hit the big time, beating Justin Bieber and Drake to win one of the music industry’s most prestigious prizes, the Grammy for best new artist.
Spalding’s musicality has always set her apart. She was raised in a single-parent home in a deprived neighbourhood of Portland, Oregon but at the age of five she taught herself the violin. Her subsequent time with The Chamber Music Society of Oregon, a community orchestra, inspired her third album, Chamber Music Society, which fuses classical music and jazz.
And Spalding’s energy and creativity has a legion of high-profile admirers, including jazz giants Joe Lovano, Jack DeJohnette and Pat Metheny. Beyond this, Barack Obama is her most famous supporter, having personally invited her to perform at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
Spalding’s diverse heritage – Native American, Hispanic and African American – clearly informs her musical output. Although Spalding’s success has shone a brighter light on the jazz community, she is not ready to call herself an ambassador for the genre. Esperanza Spalding may not be a mainstream-selling recording artist, but she definitely has the potential to be a significant creative force for many years to come.
Many believe that, as her name “esperanza” says in Spanish, she is the “hope” for the future of jazz. Esperanza Spalding will be playing at the London’s Barbican Centre Monday 11 July.
