Esperanza Spalding's Chamber Music Society

I couldn’t believe the amount of talent on that stage! I think my DNA has been permanently altered.” -attendee of the Sep 21 9:30 show

“Spalding is obviously star material of the first order, the kind of performer whose passionate, uninhibited absorption in what she’s doing ineluctably lures you into her world.” -Paul de Barros, Seattle Times

“The Esperanza Spalding experience is light, melodic, joyful, always sort of minimalist and airborne.” -New York Times

Bassist-vocalist Esperanza Spalding is taking the jazz world by storm, and she’s doing it her own way. A preternaturally gifted musician, Spalding taught herself violin before moving to the bass at age 15. She shot through the ranks in her local orchestras before attending the Berklee College of Music. Not only did she graduate in an amazing three years, Berklee hired her as an instructor at age 20- the youngest faculty member in the history of the school. In addition to her own quartet, she performs regularly with Joe Lovano, and has appeared with David Samuels, Patti Austin, and Pat Metheny.

lots of information at esperanzaspalding.com

If her first record, Esperanza, marked a brilliant beginning for this gifted young artist, then Spalding’s August 2010 release, Chamber Music Society, sets her on an upward trajectory to prominence. Inspired by the classical training of her younger years, Spalding has created a modern chamber music group that combines the spontaneity and intrigue of improvisation with sweet and angular string trio arrangements. The result is a sound that weaves the innovative elements of jazz, folk and world music into the enduring foundations of classical chamber music traditions. Co-produced by Esperanza and Gil Goldstein (with string arrangements provided by both), Chamber Music Society finds Esperanza with a diverse assembly of musicians: pianist Leo Genovese, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, percussionist Quintino Cinalli, guitarist Ricardo Vogt, and vocalists Gretchen Parlato and the legendary Milton Nascimento. The string trio is comprised of violinist Entcho Todorov, violist Lois Martin and cellist David Eggar.

• Esperanza Spalding on CBS “Second Cup Cafe”

• “Body and Soul”

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