Hailed as a prodigy on the acoustic double bass within months of first touching the instrument as a 15-year-old, Esperanza Spalding has emerged as a fine jazz bassist, but has also distinguished herself playing blues, funk, hip-hop, pop fusion, and Brazilian and Afro-Cuban styles as well. At 15, she encountered her first acoustic bass and immediately took to the instrument. Spalding enrolled in classes at Portland State University as a 16-year-old, and earned her B.A. in just three years and was immediately hired as an instructor at Berklee College of Music in 2005. After touring and playing with a whole host of artists, Spalding recorded and released Junjo in 2006, following it with 2008’s Esperanza, which scored big with critics and listeners alike. The album topped Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart and remained on it for over 70 weeks. In addition, it became the best-selling album by a new jazz artist internationally in 2008. Spalding followed it up with Chamber Music Society in 2010. The set was comprised of eight originals and three covers. It was performed by Spalding’s quartet with guest vocal appearances from Milton Nascimento and Gretchen Parlato, a small string section, and guitarist Ricardo Vogt. The album reached number one on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart, and she received a Grammy in 2011 for Best New Artist. Spalding recorded a companion album to Chamber Music Society throughout 2011. It was released in the early spring of 2012. She released Radio Music Society that same year. Spalding continues to tour the world.
