Esperanza Spalding: Esperanza (2008)

Ernest Barteldes

Concert/Festival Reviewer since 2005

Ernest Barteldes is a freelance writer and an ESL teacher.

Recent articles (186 total)

Published: June 4, 2008

On this major label debut, bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding demonstrates plenty of eclecticism, taking on styles ranging from samba, hard-driving jazz and R&B, a risky combination in less confident hands. However, Spalding revels in the multiple directions without ever sounding pretentious.

The Berklee College alum opens the disc singing in fluent Portuguese, with a small hint of an accent, on "Ponta de Areia," a Milton Nascimento/Fernando Brandt composition originally featured on Wayne Shorter's Native Dancer and often covered by many Brazilian artists. On the funk-inflected original "Precious," she gives a humorous take on a one-sided love affair. More equitable romantic bliss is the theme of the ballad "Fall In," featuring pianist Leo Genovese as sole backing for Spalding's confident but laid-back vocals.

Spalding shows strong improvisational skills on "I Adore You" and "If That's True," the latter featuring an inspired solo from saxophonist Donald Harrison. Also worth noting is "Samba em Preludio," a rare Baden Powell/Vinicius de Morais composition (Morais is best known for his longtime partnership with Antonio Carlos Jobim). She starts the piece off singing the original Portuguese lyrics over her solo bass; around the one-minute mark she is joined by guitarist Nino Josele, who provides a hauntingly beautiful solo in addition to flamenco-flavored accompaniment.

Esperanza demonstrates that Spalding is an artist in development who keeps an open mind, avoiding the trappings of niche genres. She is a talented singer, bassist and tunesmith who is willing to take risks and explore different influences as a tool for her creativity.

Track Listing: Ponta de Areia; I Know You Know; Fall In; I Adore You; Cuerpo y Alma(Body & Soul); She Got to You; Precious; Mela; Love in Time; Espera; Samba em Preludio.

Personnel: Esperanza Spalding: bass, vocals; Gretchen Parlato: vocals; Jamey Haddad: percussion; Otis Brown: drums; Nino Josele: acoustic guitar; Donald Harrison: tenor saxophone; Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez: drums; Leo Genovese: piano; Ambrose Akinmusire: trumpet.

Record Label: Heads Up International
Style: Latin/World

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Date	Venue	Tickets
Jun22	Royal Theatre Victoria,	buy
Jun23	Vogue Theatre Vancouver,
Jun25	Francis Winspear Centre for Music Edmonton,
Jun26	Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts Calgary,
Jun28	The Town Hall New York, NY	buy
Jun29	Maisonneuve Theatre de la Palce des Arts Montreal,	buy
Jul04	Muziekgebbouw Frits Philips Eindhoven Eindhoven,	buy
Jul05	Festival International de Comblain-La-Tour Comblain-La-Tour,	buy
Jul07	Love Supreme East Sussex,	buy
Jul09	Gruvillage Festival Grugliasco,	buy
Jul12	THEATRE DE VERDURE Nice,	buy
Jul14	Festival Veranos de la Villa Madrid,	buy
Jul23	Palais Longchamp Marseille, France	buy
Jul24	Arena del mare Genova,	buy
Aug03	Fort Adams Park (Newport Jazz Festival) Newport, RI	buy
Aug04	Tanglewood Seiji Ozawa Hall Lenox, MA	buy
Aug28	Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, CA
Aug29	Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre Salt Lake City, UT	buy
Aug31	Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival Antillas
Nov14	Palau De La Música Catalana Barcelona, Spain	buy
Mar06	Sanders Theatre Cambridge, MA	buy