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Esperanza featured in The New Yorker (3-15-2010)

Esperanza featured in O, The Oprah Magazine (May 2010)

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Esperanza featured in The New York Times "A Night Out With" (7-27-2008)

Esperanza featured in Bass Player (June 2008)

Esperanza featured in Billboard (7-5-2008)

“Whether exploding into vocalese or making her bass solo sound like a horn, she’s a spark plug who dances as she grooves through a funked-up and rocked-out repertoire." Billboard “Faces to Watch”

“There are many gifted singers in jazz today, and no shortage of accomplished acoustic bass players. But few jazz artists can be both. Esperanza Spalding’s new album, Esperanza, blends her soaring vocals and her deep bass lines. At 23, Spalding has already built an impressive resume: She earned a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and graduated a year early to become the youngest faculty member in the school’s history, and she's also played with jazz legends such as Patti Austin, Pat Metheny, and Herbie Hancock.” NPR’s All Things Considered


“Esperanza, her debut for Heads Up, has the charismatic musician handily demonstrating her talents as a virtuoso instrumentalist, gifted multi-lingual vocalist, and potent songwriter. She plays and sings on a jazz-rooted program marked by catchy if tricky melodies, pliable grooves informed by Latin, Brazilian, African, and bebop rhythms, and multiple bursts of ripping fingerboard work and scat singing.” Bass Player


“I love listening to Esperanza, she is wonderful.” Barack Obama


“Esperanza is the hottest thing going in the world of bass playing. So why is her CD in Keyboard? Easy. The heavily Brazilian-influenced self-penned jazz instrumentals and vocals are fantastic. Her lyrics are heartfelt yet not clichéd. Her voice is really something special. She’s a freekin’ awesome acoustic bassist. She’s got soul. And she’s got a keyboard player in the band that you need to know about: Leo Genovese…this CD provides much to discover and delight.” Keyboard


“Esperanza has got a lot: accomplished jazz improvisation, funk, scat singing, Brazilian vernacular rhythm and vocals in English, Portuguese and Spanish. At its center is a female bassist, singer and bandleader, one whose talent is beyond question.” New York Times


“The already accomplished bassist/vocalist has matured beyond her years, writing almost all her own material in a vein that brings iconic superstars to mind. Spalding sings like a cross between Minnie Riperton and Flora Purim, writes in a style recalling Milton Nascimento, and seems indebted to the rich melodies of Stevie Wonder…It all adds up to a triple threat talent.” **** Downbeat


“There’s a Latin-jazz revolution going on courtesy of young Esperanza Spalding… Spalding’s voice slips through each of her intricately crafted arrangements as if imbued with the spirit of Flora Purim. Only Spalding’s melodies are more punctual and sprightlier than the airy Airto-isms of Purim. But they never lack in dynamism.” JazzTimes


“A gorgeously sophisticated inclusion to anyone’s summer soundtrack. Hot cool.” Black Book


“Remarkably, it’s not a ‘crossover record.’ A couple of the songs are in Portuguese, for starters. As her voice sambas over vibrant South American rhythms and her Elastigirl fingers climb up and down theP double-bass's skyscraper neck, you’d swear the girl was from Ipanema, not Portland, Ore. Even people who think they don’t like jazz may respond to the melodies on Esperanza.” Christian Science Monitor


“The coolest person we've ever had on the show.” David Letterman


“Spalding’s debut album might be best described as picking up where the jazz fusion of the 1970s left off. The songs pulsate with complex arrangements, Spalding’s uniquely expressive vocals and fat-bottomed bass playing, and challenging melodies and harmonies. ‘I love fusion music,’ she said. ‘There was this wonderful arc that started 40 years ago where people kept incorporating modern sounds into their music. What you hear is a natural outgrowth of what I was exposed to.’" NY Newsday


“A seriously gifted vocalist/instrumentalist is a rare breed. That ability, or should I say gift to have command of two voices interchangeably, that capacity to handle counterpoint, ‘with yourself’, can leave most people, much less musicians, quite speechless at times. That ‘could’ almost be enough said in my introduction of Esperanza. But there’s much more to this young (24, I believe) musician than meets the eye. Her obvious love affair with music, her clarity insofar as her awareness of her evolution, and her sound, which she has thought out well, make her at this early stage in her career a force to be reckoned with, and a voice (voices?) that deserves attention, which will surely ensue with the release of her new CD Esperanza. Contrary to how it sometimes may feel within our culture these days, there ‘are’ some young players out there that are dead serious about creating a ‘life’ within the arts, and Esperanza is easily a shinning example of that.” Bass Musician Magazine


“Spalding is obviously star material of the first order, the kind of performer whose passionate, uninhibited absorption in what she’s doing ineluctably lures you into her world.” Seattle Times


“It’s clear Esperanza’s definitely got game—and has no hang-ups about showing it.” Vibe


“She’s being hailed because of her voice and sound. She’s being hailed because of her style and looks. Andy she’s being hailed because she has all this talent at the age of 23…The CD gave me much more than I expected. This musical prodigy should get many more people talking.” Sister2Sister


“It’s an album that borrows inspiration from others’ past achievements, but is perfectly now—and completely Spalding’s.” Relix


“On Esperanza, her debut set for Heads Up International, Spalding presents a prowess on the acoustic bass that many bassists with far more experience could be inspired by…And yes, purists, she can scat. Her name, Esparanza, is the Spanish word for ‘hope.’ Here’s hope for a bright future and satisfying career following this wonderfully refreshing album.” Amazon.com


“Likely to be lauded as the jazz debut of the year, this immensely talented, Berklee-trained, 23-year-old singer-bassist’s collection of sambas, standards, and swinging pop sounds more assured than most players twice her age. Spalding sings in three languages with as much clarity, power, and poise as that with which she tackles her instrument. As a bassist, she holds her own with heavyweights such as trumpeter Donald Harrison and saxophonist Joe Lovano.” AARP.org


“Esperanza demonstrates that Spalding is an artist in development who keeps an open mind, avoiding the trappings of niche genres. She is a talented singer, bassist and tunesmith who is willing to take risks and explore different influences as a tool for her creativity.” All About Jazz - New York


“Set for worldwide release on May 20, Esperanza’s bandleading debut serves to display her acoustic bass chops and angelic vocals, spanning three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese). This CD also showcases her composing and arranging skills, as well as her fresh and progressive approach to making music. Indeed, Esperanza is a bright, shining star to watch for.” Latin Beat Magazine


“Young, gifted and black (plus charming, unaffected, intelligent and versatile), Esperanza Spalding is the brightest new star to swim into my ken for years. Scatting to her funky double-bass, she sings in Spanish and English and writes originals which tap into hip soul-jazz and urban-Latin trends. Her US group, with pianist Leo Genovese and handdrummer Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez prominent, is dynamite and standards (‘Body and Soul’, ‘Samba Em Preludio’) are no problem.” ***** Evening Standard (London)


“…her brand new sophomore release is a knockout! 23 and already an instructor at the Berklee School of Music, bilingual Spalding is as powerful a writer as she is a player, intuitively melding Latin, Jazz and Funk with youthful gusto…She describes this project as a groove-oriented ‘crossover date that has the integrity of jazz.’ I call it a must hear CD and the lady a guaranteed breakthrough artist for 2008.” Urban Network


“For as bold a statement as Esperanza Spalding makes in her Heads Up debut album, the obvious truth by the end of twelve tracks is that what we’re hearing is just a taste of what’s to come from this bright young star.” AbyssJazz Magazine


“The package of talent offered by Berklee College of Music graduate Esperanza Spalding portends great things for this young artist. A classically trained musician who became a sizzling bass player and singer/composer, Spalding covers jazz and Brazilian music on her debut album with verve and energy. Most impressively, Spalding does the improvisational singing of the high notes while her fingers pound out the rhythmic line on bass.” Boston Globe


“Esperanza Spalding might have it all. At 23, she plays killer bass, possesses savvy arranger-composer skills and has a light, liquid voice. She even sings her Latin-flavored jazz in three languages. Four, if you count scat.  Spalding has enough allure to be a star. Her luminous smile is both shy and enormous, her sprite-like charm both youthful and feminine.  In many ways, Spalding has lived up to her early promise. Her album is a light, often delightful batch of effervescent, Latin-tinged jazz, sung in English, Spanish and Portuguese.” Boston Herald     


“[Spalding’s] debut on the Heads Up/Concord label is a highly accessible jazz album, heavy on groove and shades of Afro-Latin swing. The warm, organic feel of the record reminds me of the sounds that emanated from the Prestige and Blue Note labels in the mid-‘70s - sans the wah-wah guitar and Fender Rhodes. Even the throwback cover shot of the smiling, gloriously Afro’d artist looks as if it were taken in 1975…Spalding’s sunny, melodic voice (shades of Flora Purim) is as prominent throughout the breezy 12-cut CD as her deft bass playing…she’s somebody to watch.” Baltimore Sun


The multilingual Spalding is a child prodigy who grew up poor in Portland, Ore., and eventually became the youngest teacher at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. This bassist, who sings while she plays, comes at the listener from a variety of angles – straight-ahead jazz, light jazz vocals, Brazilian ballads and scat. The CD shows lots of passion and vision and includes world-class percussionist Jamey Haddad.” Kalamazoo Gazette


“Vocalist and bassist Esperanza Spalding’s debut album uses jazz standards, pop styles, soul moods, and Afro-Latin rhythms and harmonies to create unmistakably distinctive stylish sound of her own. With a fresh, youthful voice, the music radiates a vibrant Latin/jazz format with an occasional burst of sensual magnetism. It’s a lovely, charming, carefree music that captures the imagination of something new. But first things first. It’s a romantic album for falling in love with that special person. Oh, what the heck, let’s be real. It’s that Latin sound (Spanish or Portuguese, does it matter) that always gets me. Nonetheless, this is very young music that hints at a great future on songs like ‘I Adore You,’ ‘Cuerpo Y Alma (Body & Soul),’ and ‘Samba Em Preludio.’” Hill Rag (Washington DC)


“Esperanza is one of the most impressive debuts to come along in many a year. Her future is as bright as her jazz.” Virginian-Pilot


“Esperanza Spalding has ‘the X factor,’ proclaims admirer Pat Metheny. She’s a fresh, dynamic jazz bass player, composer and singer, with a throaty, imperfect voice that could grow on you. Her debut album is called (what else?) Esperanza (Heads Up, B), and it won me over with her first selection, a Milton Nascimento tune sung in Portuguese.” Philadelphia Daily News


“The young bassist has performed with players as important as Joe Lovano and in a variety of styles, and that range shows in this album dominated by Latin-tinged originals. One of them, ‘I Adore You,’ features a wordless vocal in a bebop style that moves along like a creation of Dizzy Gillespie and Bobby McFerrin. Her use of words also is good, though, as on the sarcastic ‘She Got to You.’ She also does a fine cover of ‘Body and Soul’ in an Afro-Cuban sense. For those of us who have seen her only as a bassist, her voice is a surprise – and a good one at that. The album tends to be built around it, but her strong bass playing always is there, too. The recording has a pop-like feeling upon first listening, but the jazz rhythms flex their strength on repeated visits.” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


“It is not a stretch to predict that Esperanza Spalding will be a star sometime soon. Duke Ellington once famously said: ‘There are only two kinds of music, good and bad.’ Spalding is more than merely good. Her new album displays an unusual combination of charisma and deep musicality. You don’t have to be a jazz fan to hear the sparkle from the outset.” Bloomberg.com


“In sum, Esperanza sounds like the work of a much older, more experienced player, singer, and songwriter. Spalding not only has these gifts in natural abundance but is disciplined in her execution as well. On this recording she seeks to widen her musical adventure at every turn, but she does it with such with taste, refinement, and a playful sense of humor that virtually anyone who encounters this offering will find not only much to delight in, but plenty to be amazed by as well.” All Music


“Bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding has released a complex little album that should give jazz fans great hope for the future of the art form.” Daily News (McKeesport, PA)


“The jazz wunderkind bassist-vocalist Esperanza Spalding sports an Afro as big as her musical talent. Enrolled at Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music when she was just 16 years old, Spalding scored touring and recording gigs with the likes of Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano and Patti Austin before she left school. On Esperanza (2008, Heads Up International), she focuses on her multilingual vocal stylings, tackling Milton Nascimento’s ‘Ponta de Areia’ in Portuguese, the jazz war horse ‘Body and Soul’ in Spanish (and a bold 5/4 time signature) and her own intimate ballad ‘Fall In’ in English. Showcased in a variety of small combo settings, the multiculti 23-year-old is obviously headed for big things.” Albany Times-Union


“Music, like boxing, is more about interesting combinations than sheer brute force. Esperanza Spalding has a number of surprising combinations up her sleeves. First, her doubling on acoustic bass and vocals is an unusual mixture in the jazz world. Her songs also reflect an interesting combination of world music and jazz traditions. And even within the jazz sphere, she draws on both mainstream and crossover styles…She has a beguiling singing style, more pop than jazz, but with enough substance to satisfy the more reasonable members of the jazz ‘authenticity’ police. A gracious release by a promising talent.” Jazz.com


“Blessed with talent, youth, training and outrageously good looks, Spalding is a young woman ready to make some noise, and is here to stay in the jazz world.” AllAboutJazz.com


“Ms. Spalding delivers a riveting display of special skill & talent unlike I have ever heard in this generation. Exceeding every expectation I had of this project from the reception of this CD. I’m glad to see Heads Up International providing her the chance for the world to finally receive a special, musically endowed, jazz centerpiece. Not only am I soliciting the album for purchase into your collection, I will also go out on the limb, to promote a chance of seeing Ms. Spalding live when she comes to your neighborhood, sometime soon I hope...” Urban Music Scene


“‘Body and Soul,’ played in 5/4 and sung in Spanish? That's the unlikely approach bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding takes, and the gambit pays off beautifully, as her intimate reading of the beloved jazz standard is augmented with a knock-out passage combining ripping fingerboard work with scatting. That’s just one standout piece on the first widely distributed recording from the Oregon-bred musician, at 23 already a Berklee faculty member and impossibly sophisticated…Jazz needs a breakout star about now; here’s to nominating Spalding.” Las Vegas City Life


“Spalding is the latest in a long but rare line of jazz bass players that have a whole lot more on the ball the just keeping time and thumping in rhythm. Easily a triple threat, Spalding serves up a full musical palette that certainly puts her in the ranks of any total musician that knows how to really grab you. You can’t compare her to Victor Wooten, but she’s the first bass player to grab us in the same kind of visceral way. A player to keep an eye on, this youngster is a young lion with nothing to prove and bark that in no way tips off how deep she can bite. Check it out.” Midwest Record


“We liked Spalding’s debut recording. We are even more impressed here as she continues with many of her own compositions including several strong vocals…She opens with a cover of Nascimento’s ‘Ponta de Areia’ establishing a cool groove that persists. Esperanza scats and sings in Spanish on ‘Cuerpo y Alma’ (Body & Soul) then in English on ‘Precious’ and ‘Love In Time,’ two of her own ballads. Spalding makes a strong statement here with jazzy music that will appear to a broad audience. And it is not watered down!” O's Place Jazz Newsletter