Esperanza Spalding from Letterman last night.

[Calebmundy]

Here it is. I can't believe it went up so fast, which is probably a comment on how far behind I am on youtube culture.

I love her more "out there" stuff, but this seems like a perfect choice for the Letterman show. What a great tune-great lyrics and changes and melody, but still a fantastic pop-sense and form.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=j7jZCjNz_kQ

[jimmy rocket]

Fan-freakin'-tastic!

Holy crap I'm lucky if I can play and sing backup at the same time.

[funkybassplayer]

That was awesome

[davidjbass]

That was really cool. I wish I was that young and that talented. I found it very refreshing musically.

[fretlessguy]

After reading her article in bass player, it did have my curiosity up as to how really good she was. She was as fantastic as the BP article says she was.

[Joshua]

Very hip!

[soong]

fantastic performance.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Very nice. Anybody else find playing DB and singing at the same time hard as hell? I can usually only manage one or the other in tune...

[Blueszilla]

Daayyuummmm!!

Wow..she's so..wow..

that girl is smooth, so talented.

[Paul Warburton]

Ech

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Ech

Well, she isn't Red Mitchell! As middle of the road banal pop/R & B music I thought it was at least well done, she has nice little bass line while she sings, that is tough to do as Chris says. She has a great voice, dumb lyrics but that goes with the territory.
She is getting a lot of hype but I think her work is made for a larger audience.
I'd much rather hear her coming out of the radio at the laundry mat than
over-produced dribble of the rest of contemporary R & B.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

...she has nice little bass line while she sings, that is tough to do ...

Please tell me you've listened to some of Jim Ferguson's music. I understand that it may not be your cup or tea, but while he's singing some really beautiful and involved melodies, he's playing solid inventive and happening basslines underneath. It ain't easy, but Jim makes it sound like it is.

[Gornick]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eBLAmwSJk-Y

she can play too.

I like the angle on pop she has, it's better for me than the billie holiday ripoffs out there... but she is starting to get a wrapper and bow from the label and media.

[doktorfeelgood]

Originally Posted by fretlessguy

After reading her article in bass player, it did have my curiosity up as to how really good she was. She was as fantastic as the BP article says she was.

+1....I read the same article and figured maybe she's just another "jazz-snob" from Berklee, which I've met and played with a few of. But man, she's really a monster for the ripe old age of 24. Awesome bass chops and vocals. Not really my cup of tea musically, but in a lot of ways, it don't get no better than that. I recorded her segment onto my DVR in HD and just now finished burning it to DVD to save in my archives. We'll be seeing and hearing a lot more of Esperanza Spaulding, I'm sure. You guys know that she's also a Professor at Berklee, right? ...Too Cool.
Here's the link to the BP article... )-(

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/on...z/may-08/35479

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

Well, she isn't Red Mitchell! As middle of the road banal pop/R & B music I thought it was at least well done, she has nice little bass line while she sings, that is tough to do as Chris says. She has a great voice, dumb lyrics but that goes with the territory.
She is getting a lot of hype but I think her work is made for a larger audience.
I'd much rather hear her coming out of the radio at the laundry mat than
over-produced dribble of the rest of contemporary R & B.

Have you listened to her myspace page? She does some really nice stuff. I think she has potential to be in the Prince/ Stevie Wonder category of truly talented musician vocalists, and she is a first rate jazz musician. As far as I can see, she is a one of a kind talent.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Please tell me you've listened to some of Jim Ferguson's music. I understand that it may not be your cup or tea, but while he's singing some really beautiful and involved melodies, he's playing solid inventive and happening basslines underneath. It ain't easy, but Jim makes it sound like it is.

Yeah, he is a great musician. Not really my thing but a really fantastic player. He posts on here sometimes, too, right?
I always like hearing good bass playing.
Same with Esperanza.
I agree she could be a another prince or Stevie wonder, again not my taste but they are great musicians.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Gornick

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eBLAmwSJk-Y

she can play too.

I like the angle on pop she has, it's better for me than the billie holiday ripoffs out there... but she is starting to get a wrapper and bow from the label and media.

It would be really cool if she can keep this kind of thing up along side her more pop career. She sounds great here.
I agree on the pop angle too. Great bass playing and beautiful women are two of my favorite things, you add that to something I normally don't care for and starts to work for me.

[Lesfunk]

I thought she was great.

[Marcus Johnson]

I liked her. Nice thing she's got going there. Cute, too.

[Eli_Upright12]

Isn't she also a lecturer at Curtis? that was my understanding from the BP article