Esperanza Spalding born 1984 is an American multi-instrumentalist best known as a jazz bassist and singer, who draws upon many genres in her own compositions. In 2011 she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 53rd Grammy Awards, making her the first jazz artist to win the award.
Early life and education
Spalding grew up in the King neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, a neighborhood she describes as "ghetto" and "pretty scary".Her mother raised her and her brother as a single parent.
Spalding has a diverse ethnic background. She notes, "My mom is Welsh, Hispanic, and Native American, and my father is black." She also has an interest in the music of other cultures, including that of Brazil,commenting, "With Portuguese songs the phrasing of the melody is intrinsically linked with the language, and it’s beautiful".
Her mother shares Spalding's interest in music, having nearly become a touring singer herself.But while Spalding cites her mother as a powerful influence who encouraged her musical expansion, she attributes her inspiration for pursuing a life in music to watching classical cellist Yo Yo Ma perform on an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood when she was four.
By the time Spalding was five, she had taught herself to play the violin and was playing with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon.Spalding stayed with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon until she was fifteen and left as concertmaster.Due to a lengthy illness when she was child, Spalding spent much of her elementary school years being homeschooled, but also attended King Elementary School in Northeast Portland. During this time she also found the opportunity to pick up instruction in music by listening to her mother's college teacher instruct her mother in guitar.According to Spalding, when she was about 8 her mother briefly studied jazz guitar in college; Spalding says, "Going with her to her class, I would sit under the piano. Then I would come home and I would be playing her stuff that her teacher had been playing."Spalding also played oboe and clarinet before discovering the bass in high school. She is able to sing in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Background information
Born: 1984,Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Genres : Jazz, jazz fusion, bossa nova, neo soul
Occupations: musician, composer, educator, bandleader
Instruments: vocals, upright bass, bass guitar, violin, oboe, clarinet
Years active: 2000s-present
Labels: Heads Up International, Hush Records, Merge Records
Associated :acts Stanley Clarke, Patti Austin, Noise for Pretend
Website : esperanzaspalding.com
Discography:
2010 Chamber Music Society
2008 Esperanza
2006 Junjo
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