She has chops for sure and a great voice. But, the acoustic bass really doesn't do anything for me.
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Esperanza Spalding
- Thread starter Fire-Starter
- Start date
It doesnt do anything? You can't feel that at all ?! Check your pulse brother...
I like bass anyway it gets to my head. But I can dig you cant dig DB. I cant dig piano often.
Was watching some late night TV the other day and turned Jay on. I find Dave too "stiff", gangly and white for usually, so Jay finsihes his monologue and brings out his first guest, and its Foxworthy.. which is cool, but I cant do the red neck schtick anymore, ... must have dosed off some, and finally switch to Dave, just in time to see this chic singing, with a backlit 'fro, and I''m like ..... whoa, my native bros did me solid on that batch of tobbacco ... I'm having a 70's flashback.... what IS this? ... Soul Train or American Bandstand.....WHO is that???
Well my groggy head cleared in an instant when I realized that I was here and now,and this person I was watching was one of the most authentic and talented musicians I had ever heard, and VERY easy on the eyes. I mean Espy is cute as a button man, and she's near angelic when she sings.
and I dig her bass playing, its really, really good. Great sense of time, and on the tunes she sings on top of the bass lines, I mean, how...?? I cant walk and chew gum.
Bought her new CD next day. Got the one with her signature, 'cause I'm like an infatuated schoolboy now.....
I like bass anyway it gets to my head. But I can dig you cant dig DB. I cant dig piano often.
Was watching some late night TV the other day and turned Jay on. I find Dave too "stiff", gangly and white for usually, so Jay finsihes his monologue and brings out his first guest, and its Foxworthy.. which is cool, but I cant do the red neck schtick anymore, ... must have dosed off some, and finally switch to Dave, just in time to see this chic singing, with a backlit 'fro, and I''m like ..... whoa, my native bros did me solid on that batch of tobbacco ... I'm having a 70's flashback.... what IS this? ... Soul Train or American Bandstand.....WHO is that???
Well my groggy head cleared in an instant when I realized that I was here and now,and this person I was watching was one of the most authentic and talented musicians I had ever heard, and VERY easy on the eyes. I mean Espy is cute as a button man, and she's near angelic when she sings.
and I dig her bass playing, its really, really good. Great sense of time, and on the tunes she sings on top of the bass lines, I mean, how...?? I cant walk and chew gum.
Bought her new CD next day. Got the one with her signature, 'cause I'm like an infatuated schoolboy now.....
Man, it's so weird how she seemingly came out of nowhere: I swear, Monday of this week I'd never even heard her name. Tuesday of this week I walk into a magazine shop and see her name on the cover of both Bass Player and Downbeat! And Tuesday night I get home to an email from my father, who writes "Ever hear of a bassist named Esperanza Spaulding? One of my handball-playing buddies recommended her."
Clearly it is her time.
And I really dig this quote of hers, which I found on the Berklee faculty website:
"You have to be a good listener to be a good bass player. So I try to get students to calm down and listen to themselves first. I'll start by asking a student to play me four bars. Then I'll say, 'Okay, what did you play in the last bar?' And they don't know. It's like a paradigm shift where they realize, 'Omigosh, I'm not listening to myself.' And if you're not even listening to yourself then (a) why should anybody else listen to you? and (b) how can you even listen to anyone else?"
Very sharp observation for such a young musician. Guess I'm gonna have to check out some of her music.
Clearly it is her time.
And I really dig this quote of hers, which I found on the Berklee faculty website:
"You have to be a good listener to be a good bass player. So I try to get students to calm down and listen to themselves first. I'll start by asking a student to play me four bars. Then I'll say, 'Okay, what did you play in the last bar?' And they don't know. It's like a paradigm shift where they realize, 'Omigosh, I'm not listening to myself.' And if you're not even listening to yourself then (a) why should anybody else listen to you? and (b) how can you even listen to anyone else?"
Very sharp observation for such a young musician. Guess I'm gonna have to check out some of her music.
OK "doesn't do anything" is a bit strong. DB is very cool when I'm getting into some str8 ahead jazz. This CD could grow on me if I gave it the chance. But by and large it isn't the same thrill as electric bass. How's that?
Yeah, we help keep each other in good check brother, that's much more accurate of you, I'm sure! 
- Jan 7, 2008
- 2,196
- 224
- 39
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Olinto, La Bella, JuleAmps, Epifani
ok, so it looks like I'm going to be the ass**** here to say that I am completely unimpressed with Esperanza and am appalled that Berklee feels that she is qualified to be a professor there. Being a classically trained double bassist, I've studied with some amazing teachers over the last 10 years, and the first thing any good teacher will tell you is: "bad technique can only take you so far". Well, has anyone actually watched Esperanza play bass? Reminds me of myself in early high school! I will admit I think her voice is great, and her sound is very refreshing as a whole, but she plays on a crappy bass and not one thing she's played has impressed me at all. I think I'm more blown away by the fact that she's played with so many big names and is somehow TEACHING at Berklee....I wouldn't be surprised if this is some huge ploy by Berklee to attract more bassists to apply to the school....like NYU claiming Richard Bona is on faculty and he shows up twice a year to say hi....
Since bass is such a masculine instrument primarily dominated by men, I feel like anytime a cute girl picks up a bass and sounds decent, everybody goes nuts and makes the biggest deal out of it. For example, Tal Wilkenfeld. Personally, I think Tal can run circles around Esperanza, but I don't think she's THAT talented either....so she sounds exactly like Marcus Miller and is backed by a KILLING band....WOOHOOO! Her music may be well written, but it's nothing we haven't heard before a BILLION times, just a cute Australian girl is doing it so we have to make a big deal out of it....don't get me wrong, I'm all about women and women playing music, but we're demeaning their craft by treating them like they're so much better than they really are. A bass player is a bass player. The most talented should be out there doing their thing and they deserve it, regardless of gender. If someone puts in the time, builds their technique, finds their sound and style, and becomes as versatile as possible, then all I can say is, "hell yeah they deserve it". But we need to quit sacrificing talent because "oh wow, she plays well for a girl". Sorry for the rant, I just feel Esperanza could use about another 4-5 years of learning how to play the bass before she becomes a superstar, let alone A PROFESSOR AT BERKLEE TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF BASSISTS!
Since bass is such a masculine instrument primarily dominated by men, I feel like anytime a cute girl picks up a bass and sounds decent, everybody goes nuts and makes the biggest deal out of it. For example, Tal Wilkenfeld. Personally, I think Tal can run circles around Esperanza, but I don't think she's THAT talented either....so she sounds exactly like Marcus Miller and is backed by a KILLING band....WOOHOOO! Her music may be well written, but it's nothing we haven't heard before a BILLION times, just a cute Australian girl is doing it so we have to make a big deal out of it....don't get me wrong, I'm all about women and women playing music, but we're demeaning their craft by treating them like they're so much better than they really are. A bass player is a bass player. The most talented should be out there doing their thing and they deserve it, regardless of gender. If someone puts in the time, builds their technique, finds their sound and style, and becomes as versatile as possible, then all I can say is, "hell yeah they deserve it". But we need to quit sacrificing talent because "oh wow, she plays well for a girl". Sorry for the rant, I just feel Esperanza could use about another 4-5 years of learning how to play the bass before she becomes a superstar, let alone A PROFESSOR AT BERKLEE TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF BASSISTS!
I'm sure there is a huge PR firm hired here that makes this less of a coincidence. This is not meant to take anything away from her talent, but starting at around $50,000 a year, you can hire a firm to cross-promote you everywhere, organize appearances on TV, radio, and magazine to happen all around the same time, etc.
Since most of us here follow a lot of the same media outlets, bass mags, NPR, etc, and our radars go off as soon as any bassist is featured, the media campaign is undoubtedly more noticable to us!
That being said, I think she's talented- and it's always good to see the upright in mainstream media!
- Aug 16, 2003
- 1,130
- 24
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist;Essential sound products,Dunlop, Ergo Instruments
First of all I'll deal with the Tal reference, they play 2 different instruments in 2 different styles so saying that Tal can play circles around Esperanza is a bit of a reach as they are not doing the same thing. It's not like they lined up and saw who can walk thru "Moments notice" the best in front of a panel of judges.It aways bug's me a little when musicians do that critic thing and say "oh such and such is no fill in the blank" I understand why some people do that but when musicians do it it bothers me a bit. You stated that watching her play reminded you of yourself in early high school;Were you playing with Joe Lovano then? Joe is a well established career jazz headliner do you think he would have someone on his gig just because she's a girl because it look's cute? or that somehow Berklee told him to? I think not. You seem to have a real problem with the fact that Esperanza is teaching at Berklee at a early age.The people at Berklee saw something in her as a student that they want to make available to "THE NEXT GENERATION OF BASSIST".I see from your profile your a few years younger than Esperanza although you have been playing since you were 13(Me too!)One of the things I have learned about other people who play the same instrument's is the fact that band leaders,producers and record company people often see something in somebody I don't because I'm too busy thinking about how I would do something or why I wasn't getting the call.Give Esperanza the 4-5 years you said she needs before passing final judgment.
- Aug 16, 2003
- 1,130
- 24
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist;Essential sound products,Dunlop, Ergo Instruments
- Jan 7, 2008
- 2,196
- 224
- 39
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Olinto, La Bella, JuleAmps, Epifani
Agreed....it's really not fair to compare Tal to Esperanza as they both play different instruments as well as musical styles, however, my reference was more geared toward how people respond to female bassists nowadays. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but by early high school I was already a full blown professional musician making a TON of money for a 14 year old kid....maybe not playing with Joe Levano, but don't think that having a cute girl playing bass isn't the novelty Joe was going for....much like Tal on the road with Jeff Beck....he could have picked anybody he wanted but he chose to go with something more jaw dropping....a girl that can play. I'm not saying Esperanza can't play, I've just done the whole university double bass degree thing, and after seeing her technique on bass I think it's a crime to put this girl in any kind of teaching position, let alone in the collegiate level, LET ALONE BERKLEE! But like I said, give her 4-5 years of studying with someone great who knows technique and I will kindly take my words back.
I, like many on this board, have also done the whole university double bass degree thing. I learned that there is a hell of alot more to be learned from a private teacher than technique (not that that isn't important
). I'm sure you've seen Charlie Haden play. He teaches/taught at Cal-Arts.Edit: Not trying to bust your A$$ just confused as to why technique is the only qualifier for teaching.
I hope this does not turn out like the Tal thread did. I would hope we could be happy for her and let her do her thing. Unless we want to argue with those at Berklee who actually made the decision to put her there.
Just my 2 1/2 cents. If you believe the hype.
I certainly dig what she is doing.
Just my 2 1/2 cents. If you believe the hype.
I certainly dig what she is doing.
bassdoubler, anyway, clearly her teaching ability isnt what caught my eye/ear/soul, its was her genuiness and talent. And surely her promotional campaign was intelligently managed. Oh, and your gender thing freaks me out. Itrs illogical. Bass is a masculine instrument? Maybe you and society perceive it that way, but the natural tone of the bass isnt masculine OR feminine. But if you DID perceive it that way, then you gotta be all twisted up and in love with Espy, as the counterpoint of her beautiful feminine song and the percussive thump of her 'masculine' bass gotta, like, put you in sonic aural mystic heaven, ..... the naturalness of it, the yin yang of it.....
dont it???.
just teasin' on ya...
dont it???.
just teasin' on ya...
I saw her play w/Lovano about a year ago, and have checked out the standard array of media offerings as many others have. I find Esperanza's bass playing uninspired and uninspiring. There's nothing especially wrong about what she's playing, but nothing especially right about it either.
Just saw her at Yoshi's last night (Oakland) and all I can say is WOW! Beautiful, amazing voice, wonderful arrangements and chops! Did I mention how beautiful she looked! Been bumping her album all day....
