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United States Esperanza Spalding is an American bassist, singer, and composer known for her musical versatility across jazz and other genres.
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Request A ShowSpalding released her first album, Junjo, in 2006 with the Spanish label Ayva Musica.
Spalding signed with the independent American label Heads Up, which released her 2008 self-titled album and "Radio Music Society" (2012).
During her 2012 tour, Spalding donated a portion of proceeds from merchandise sales to the non-profit organization Free the Slaves, which works to combat human trafficking.
Spalding released her fifth studio album, the funk rock-inspired concept album "Emily's D+Evolution," on Concord Records.
For her album "Exposure" (2017), Spalding streamed the entire 77-hour creative process live on Facebook.
Esperanza Spalding uses a Godin A5 Fretless Bass in her performances.
Esperanza Spalding uses a Fender Jazz Jaco Pastorius Signature bass and Fender Jazz instruments.
Esperanza Spalding uses Ampeg SVT-4PRO amplifiers and an Ampeg PN-410HLF cab.
Esperanza Spalding received the Doris Duke Artist Award in 2024 for Jazz category.
Esperanza Emily Spalding was born on October 18, 1984, in Portland, Oregon. She displayed musical talent early, teaching herself violin and joining the Chamber Music Society of Oregon at age five, where she performed for ten years, becoming concertmaster. While initially self-taught, she later studied the oboe and clarinet before discovering the double bass at The Northwest Academy, a performing arts high school. She began performing in Portland clubs as a teenager, securing her first gig in a blues club at 15. Spalding attended Portland State University on a music scholarship and later received a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music. In 2005, she graduated from Berklee and became one of the youngest instructors in the college’s history at age 20.
Spalding released her debut album, “Junjo,” in 2006 on Ayva Music. She gained wider recognition with her 2008 self-titled album, “Esperanza,” which blended jazz with Brazilian and Argentine folk music and spent over 70 weeks on the Billboard jazz album chart. Her third studio album, “Chamber Music Society” (2010), was a commercial success, charting at number 34 on the Billboard 200. This album led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2011, making her the first jazz artist to receive this honor. Her fourth album, “Radio Music Society” (2012), earned the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album, and the track “City of Roses” won Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals.
In 2016, Spalding released “Emily’s D+Evolution,” a funk rock concept album co-produced by Tony Visconti, exploring her alter ego. The following year, she released “Exposure,” created in 77 consecutive hours streamed live on Facebook, with 7,777 limited-edition copies. Her sixth studio album, “12 Little Spells” (2019), peaked at number one on Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums and won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Beyond her recordings, Spalding has collaborated with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Prince, and Janelle Monáe. In 2017, she was appointed professor of the practice of music at Harvard University, a position she resigned from in 2022.
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