In 2011, Esperanza Spalding, 27, surprised many with her Grammy win for ?Best New Artist? after her album ?Chamber Music Society,? with its combination of jazz, folk and world music integrated into the traditional structure of classical music, garnered her worldwide attention.
Her latest release, “Radio Music Society,” shows the young artist?s range. This time, she blends her jazz background with pop elements. The classic beat from Michael Jackson?s ?Off The Wall,? R&B grooves and contributions from rapper Q-tip find a place within her jazz roots.
After her Grammy win, Spalding found a new level of success, with ?Vogue? and ?People? magazines putting her on their covers, and the chance to sing at the annual Academy Awards ceremony in front of billions. Yet, Spalding maintains her foundation in jazz, while expanding her music to include a variety of influences.
Jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette performs on the album and observed, ?I think we all have that same sensibility, that jazz music can go a lot of places and cover a lot of bases and still hold that.” ?Radio Music Society? also includes performances from renowned jazz artists Joe Lovano on saxophone, Lionel Loueke on guitar and Grammy-winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington.
Spalding also has the backing of her record label, Heads Up International, to create her unique artistic path. “Esperanza is the one who dictates what she wants to do, and because we believe in her so much, that’s exactly how it goes down?. Here, creativity trumps everything else,” said Mark Wexler, president of the label.
Read more at The Huffington Post.
