Esperanza Spalding archive
Watch KCRW Presents: Esperanza Spalding KCRW
June 6, 2012 – Watch Spalding and her brass band perform "Smile Like That" from her new album, Radio Music Society. KCRW
Watch Esperanza Spalding: Jazz As 'Radio Music'
March 18, 2012 – The Grammy winner explores the link between jazz and African-American identity on a new album.
Read First Listen: Esperanza Spalding, 'Radio Music Society'
March 11, 2012 – Wherein a virtuoso singing bassist explores the many mysteries of the "pop song," with scare quotes.
Listen Mary Lou Williams Festival All-Star Quintet On JazzSet WBGO
September 8, 2011 – Hear Geri Allen, Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lyne Carrington, Grace Kelly and Dee Dee Bridgewater. WBGO
Read The Roots Picnic, In Concert WXPN
June 3, 2011 – The Roots, Nas, Esperanza Spalding, and Wiz Khalifa performed for thousands in Philadelphia. WXPN
Listen Fivin' Around At The Village Vanguard WBGO
February 17, 2011 – Hear Greg Osby and Joe Lovano's Us Five in concert, featuring Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding. WBGO
Watch Who Is Esperanza Spalding, Best New Artist?
February 14, 2011 – How could a jazz bassist possibly win the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2011?
Watch Esperanza Spalding: Tiny Desk Concert
February 12, 2011 – The jazz bassist, singer and Best New Artist Grammy winner performs in the NPR Music offices.
Listen Joe Lovano Us Five: Live At The Village Vanguard WBGO
January 12, 2011 – The monster tenorman and his two-drummer band play Charlie Parker's music at the jazz institution. WBGO
Watch 50 Favorites: S-W
December 1, 2010 – The list of our 50 favorite albums of the year includes Sufjan Stevens and more artists from S to Z.
Listen Esperanza Spalding: It Takes A 'Society'
August 20, 2010 – Hear Spalding perform a musical interpretation of a William Blake poem in NPR's Studio 4A.
Read First Listen: Esperanza Spalding, 'Chamber Music Society'
August 8, 2010 – Bolstered by a small string section, the bassist and singer's new album is both intimate and bright.
Listen Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition, Esperanza Spalding Quartet On JazzSet WBGO
March 18, 2010 – The sky was bright last August in Newport, R.I. — but this week's artists are glowing young stars. WBGO
Listen Esperanza Spalding: Just Bass And Voice Jazz24
March 11, 2010 – Giving her band the afternoon off, Spalding plays solo versions of jazz standards at KPLU. Jazz24
Read Highlights From The 2009 Newport Jazz Festival
August 11, 2009 – Last weekend's festival packed in a dizzying array of talent, all performing in just 32 hours.