Esperanza Spalding

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Born in 1984, bassist, singer and composer Esperanza Spalding began playing in small jazz and blues venues around her hometown of Portland, Oregon. Soon after picking up the acoustic bass at the late age of 14, she helped form Noise for Pretend, an eclectic band fusing jazz and pop for which she sang and played bass (often simultaneously). The group signed with indie rock imprint Hush Records, which released two albums of their original compositions.

Spalding continued to branch out, playing with jazz groups as well as leading her own septet and trio. In 2002 she joined the hip-hop group Black Science Tribe, which gained a sizable following touring along the West Coast.

Since moving East to attend the Berklee College of Music, Ms. Spalding has regularly worked as a freelance bassist and singer, both locally and internationally. Ms. Spalding has worked with many notable Grammy-winning artists such as pianist Michel Camilo, vibraphonist Dave Samuels, saxophonist Joe Lovano, violinist Regina Carter, guitarist Pat Metheny, and singer Patti Austin.

She has also performed as a member of the Boston Pops, with drummers Bill Stewart (John Scofield, Chris Potter, Joe Lovano), Terri-Lyne Carrington (Herbie Hancock), Mark Walker (Paquito D’Rivera), as well as guitarist Adam Rogers (Michael Brecker, Chris Potter), saxophonist Seamus Blake (Mingus Big Band, Bloomdaddies), and trumpeter Byron Stripling and performed as an opening act for comedian and sometimes-jazz drummer/vocalist Bill Cosby.
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Top Albums

  • Esperanza
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  • Chamber Music Society
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  • Radio Music Society
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  • Junjo
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Top Tracks

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  • Dirt_Hole

    Saw her on Jools Holland, yesterday, amazing fusion of styles and time signatures. Brilliant. And you've got to love that bass. :D :D

    yesterday afternoon

  • SatanEsCholo

    Oh Esperanza :D

    13 days ago

  • Mars312

    Radio Music Society is beautiful. This may replace her self-titled as my favorite.

    16 days ago

  • ChefLannie

    Saw her in concert Saturday...INCREDIBLE! Worth EVERY penny. She is witty, thoughtful and talented and beautiful. Total freaking package!

    19 days ago

  • vulgarcita

    ¡Ay, ay, ay sensacional!

    25 days ago

  • drippz

    free on itunes.

    last month

  • JBThazard

    I love watching interviews of her. Beautiful voice and face, excellent mature attitude and opinions, plus her articulation on music ideologies in general is inspirational and simply enjoyable to learn from. AMAZING WOMAN GODDAMN

    last month

  • HDnightlife

    obligatory "she's beautiful" and even better that she's based nearby where I live. I absolutely have to check as much of her shit out as possible.

    last month
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TRANSMISSIONS FESTIVAL - MADRID 2012

16 May 2012 | from blog.myspace.com/esperanzaspalding

The short films of Esperanza Spalding's latest album, Radio Music Society, will be presented at the first edition of the Transmissions Festival which will be held at the Casa Encendida in …

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