Esperanza spalding
By Charlotte Stace
The American jazz bassist and singer-songwriter Esperanza Spalding is set to perform at Sala Paral·lel 62. Over her career, she’s managed to carve out a unique space for herself within contemporary music, blending jazz with elements of funk, R&B, bossa nova and classical influences.
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, she gained international acclaim with her breakthrough album Esperanza (2008), and made history by winning the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2011 - the first jazz musician ever to do so. Over the years, she’s collaborated with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Prince, Wayne Shorter and Milton Nascimento.
Some of her most successful work includes Emily’s D+Evolution (2016), a theatrical concept album, and 12 Little Spells (2018), a multimedia exploration of music and healing. While these records help put her on the map, her latest record, a collaboration with Brazilian legend Milton Nascimento entitled Milton + esperanza (2024), captures a bold new era.