Esperanza Spalding at Newport 2025

[Dr. Cheese]

Great as usual.

 

[JRA]

what a talent!

 

[PrimitiveMan]

She's one of my favs for sure!

 

[pbass2]

Amazing.

 

[burgerdj]

I got to see her live a few years ago at an outdoor concert. I was totally blown away, even if her performance was not the straightahead jazz that everybody was expecting.

 

[Carl Hillman]

If you put aside her beautiful voice, how she uses it, her writing, and her ability to sing and play at the same time, you'll still be blown away at just how accurate her intonation is while barely looking the fingerboard on her bass.

Thanks for posting, Doc.

 

[Mister Magic]

Not the greatest audio of her, unfortunately.

I consider her a musical genius who can sing as well as she plays bass. Her compositions are very creative.

Her bass playing puts her in the top 1% of bassists globally, imo.

Actually, I can only think of a small number of players that play at her level and I can think of none that play and sing at her level.

 

[Mister Magic]

If you put aside her beautiful voice, how she uses it, her writing, and her ability to sing and play at the same time, you'll still be blown away at just how accurate her intonation is while barely looking the fingerboard on her bass.

Thanks for posting, Doc

Good point. Because of her excellent intonation, I usually forget she plays fretless as often as she does.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Not the greatest audio of her, unfortunately.

I consider her a musical genius who can sing as well as she plays bass. Her compositions are very creative.

Her bass playing puts her in the top 1% of bassists globally, imo.

Actually, I can only think of a small number of players that play at her level and I can think of none that play and sing at her level.

Stevie Wonder might disagree with you, but I get your point.

 

[matthewbrown]

I met a chap on the bus who was a vocal instructor at Berklee. He and another teacher from the voice department apparently tracked Esperanza down to convince her to work with them on her vocal chops. I'm glad they won her her over to the idea. He was a fascinating guy - all clad in Scottish gear and apparently a child singer/actor on Broadway from an early age, then worked with the Rat Pack. Not to mention a stint as Army counterintelligence!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I met a chap on the bus who was a vocal instructor at Berklee. He and another teacher from the voice department apparently tracked Esperanza down to convince her to work with them on her vocal chops. I'm glad they won her her over to the idea. He was a fascinating guy - all clad in Scottish gear and apparently a child singer/actor on Broadway from an early age, then worked with the Rat Pack. Not to mention a stint as Army counterintelligence!

Thanks, it is important to remember that gifted does not mean that the genius did not do work hard.

 

[pbass62]

She is sooo talented!!!