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"Esperanza Spalding Is The 21st Century's Jazz Genius"

#81
I mean, if someone is not moved by this, I'm pretty sure that's a reliable test for being a sociopath (much like if someone in a group yawns and one of the others doesn't). Then you realize the studio version doesn't "stand out" on the album despite being a Stevie Wonder written classic Michael Jackson tune. This lady has got something special which goes way beyond pure technique. The sax player kills on this too.

 
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#83
Omega Monkey said:
If it's not her, she's definitely in the top 5. Her competition being people like Glasper, maybe League, Hiromi is up there, etc... But none of the others sing and write lyrics as well. D Evolution is a masterpiece and only the crustiest curmudgeon would try to argue otherwise. She's definitely got her distinctive and unique style that has been developing over her career. If you're hoping for blazing fusion, or bop, or Miles style modal stuff, you're going to be disappointed, but that's on you, not her. But that's kind of the point of jazz, to keep pushing forward and trying to do new things. If we just stayed in Jelly Roll Morton territory the last 100 years how boring would that be?

I mean, if anyone else is doing stuff like this, please post up examples because I want to hear it!



I mean it's like part Radiohead/Foals kind of guitar based indie rock, part Jill Scott soul song, part Soundgarden psychedelic guitar freakout, part...???
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She's definitely in your top five :)

I really dig Thundercat. To me, that's pioneering stuff as well.

Don't get me wrong....she's amazing and I do listen to her, but she's not honestly in my top 5 for bassists....probably not even top 10.

For the record, I don't care for Radiohead or indie rock....doesn't mean it's not good stuff...just not my cup of tea.
 
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#86
I'm not hip to her material. But, I do think she sounds awesome. You have to look at things from her perspective. She is writing and performing music that she sells out on the gig. Audiences aren't going to Jazz gigs to hear chops fests any more. She is writing music from the heart and performing it with excellent technique; and it looks to me like folks are buying into it. What more can you ask?

She gets an A+ from me; for whatever that's worth. and, as I said, I don't even know her material. Excellent.
 
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#87
bucephylus said:
I'm not hip to her material. But, I do think she sounds awesome. You have to look at things from her perspective. She is writing and performing music that she sells out on the gig. Audiences aren't going to Jazz gigs to hear chops fests any more. She is writing music from the heart and performing it with excellent technique; and it looks to me like folks are buying into it. What more can you ask?

She gets an A+ from me; for whatever that's worth. and, as I said, I don't even know her material. Excellent.
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Strangely, perhaps, I'm reminded of a scene from the beginning of Bruce Lee's "Enter The Dragon" where he's training his student - "emotional content!" Yeah, she's got the chops, but that's really besides the point, she's got the whole package, very few do...
 
#95
Raw N Low said:
She is a solid player, performer, and artist. Problem with Jazz + young people, is they are quick to announce someone as "groundbreaking" "the best (insert here)".

Sometimes the accolades are based purely on what they are exposed to.
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Yeah, I thought just last year NPR and other's were saying Jacob Collier was the best, new composer of the century.
 
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#98
Omega Monkey said:
I mean, if someone is not moved by this, I'm pretty sure that's a reliable test for being a sociopath (much like if someone in a group yawns and one of the others doesn't). Then you realize the studio version doesn't "stand out" on the album despite being a Stevie Wonder written classic Michael Jackson tune. This lady has got something special which goes way beyond pure technique. The sax player kills on this too.

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You must be quite the hit at parties: If you don't agree with me, you're a sociopath? I mean...really.
 
#99
Carl Hillman said:
She's a great player, singer, and an interesting composer. I dig her.

All I'd say is, let us let her do her thing for a while, and enjoy it, before we elevate her to the status of "The Jazz Genius" of the century (whatever that is).

I guess the people who write about music feel like they have to attach the most provocative headline possible to their stuff in order to get anyone to read it.
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Or they simply have opinions and because if their job they're expected to expand on them.
 
#100
vonbladet said:
Kamasi Washington? Shabaka Hutchings?

But maybe also it is one of thise categories like "The Greastest Eighteenth-Century Astronaut" that is not destined to be filled at all.

I'm now listening to Emily's D+Evolution again though, so O guess it worked.
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Seems like you're putting her in pretty good company.
:D

I guess in my world finding a musician who could play like Art Tatum WHILE scatting like Ella Fitzgerald isn't exactly a routine occurence.

If she's considered a "solid" bassist...
:D
 
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