Esperanza Spalding : NPR

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NPR

esperanza spalding: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

January 7, 2022 • spalding and the Loving presences play a spirit-nourishing Tiny Desk home concert featuring selections from her Songwrights Apothecary Lab, (S.A.L.) project.

For the jazz community, 2021 proved that improvisation is a life strategy

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For the jazz community, 2021 proved that improvisation is a life strategy

WBGO

December 20, 2021 • WBGO's Nate Chinen reflects on the year in jazz.

Wayne Shorter and esperanza spalding crack open the old world in new opera

Iphigenia, played by esperanza spalding, prepares for her sacrifice. From Wayne Shorter and spalding's opera, ...(Iphigenia). Jon Fine/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Review

Wayne Shorter and esperanza spalding crack open the old world in new opera

WBGO

December 10, 2021 • The pair took a close look at the subtexts of Euripides' sad, epic tale of Iphigenia — agency, testosterone, violence, faith — and, through a suite of new music, hold them up to the light.

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NPR Music's 100 Best Songs of 2021 (40-21)

December 2, 2021 • Think of the best songs of 2021 as a playlist catering to the most basic human urges. Within it, booties were called, muffins were buttered and bloody revenge was contemplated. It was quite a year.

Wayne Shorter's operatic dream comes true, brought to life with Esperanza Spalding

Composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter with a page from his ...(Iphigenia) score. Jeff Tang/Courtesy of Real Magic hide caption

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Jeff Tang/Courtesy of Real Magic

Wayne Shorter's operatic dream comes true, brought to life with Esperanza Spalding

November 11, 2021 • Iconic jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter has completed a long-held dream, an opera based on the mythic Greek character Iphigenia, with help from singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding.

Wayne Shorter's operatic dream comes true, brought to life with Esperanza Spalding

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Courtesy of the artist

Esperanza Spalding, 'Formwela 10'

WBGO

August 26, 2021 • "Formwela 10" is one of Spalding's more enchanting spells: a shape-shifting chamber invention that ponders the question of what we ask of one another in the course of romantic exchange.

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NPR

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

Jazz Night's Monthly Mixtape: Kamasi Washington, Brandee Younger And More

July 2, 2021 • Jazz is alive and thriving! Each month, the Jazz Night staff curates a playlist of new music that caught our attention. For June, work by Brandee Younger, Kamasi Washington, Hiatus Kaiyote and more.

NPR

Busting Myths And Building Resiliency: Esperanza Spalding Talks With Lara Downes

KDFC and KUSC

April 24, 2021 • The self-described "athletically creative" bassist, vocalist and composer searches for origins and originality while writing an opera with jazz giant Wayne Shorter.

We Insist: A Century Of Black Music Against State Violence

Lil Baby performs during a Juneteenth voter registration rally on June 19, 2020 at Murphy Park Fairgrounds in Atlanta, Ga. One week earlier, he released "The Bigger Picture," a song protesting police brutality. Paras Griffin/Getty Images hide caption

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America Reckons With Racial Injustice

We Insist: A Century Of Black Music Against State Violence

June 26, 2020 • These songs take on some of the ugliest stories in our history and reflect the commitment of Black musicians to telling the truth of how Black people have been wronged, and survived, and fought back.

Raveena performs during a Tiny Desk concert, on Oct. 8, 2019. Catie Dull/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk Playlists

Raveena's 5 Favorite Tiny Desk Concerts

April 21, 2020 • We asked Raveena, who stopped by the Tiny Desk in 2019 after the release of her standout debut, Lucid, to handpick her favorite performances.

Watch: Esperanza Spalding Shares Striking Video For 'How To (hair)'

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New Music

Watch: Esperanza Spalding Shares Striking Video For 'How To (hair)'

WBGO

June 6, 2019 • The dreamy procession of tight braids and flowing dreadlocks, of waves and shapes and curls, is an unsparing statement on the legacies of colonialism, slavery and black pride.

New Music Friday For Oct. 19: 8 Albums You Should Hear Now

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All Songs Considered

New Music Friday For Oct. 19: 8 Albums You Should Hear Now

October 19, 2018 • On this week's sprint through the best new releases we've got irresistible earworms from Peter Bjorn & John, the deep soul of PHONY PPL, Esperanza Spalding's mind-bending songcraft and more.

New Music Friday For Oct. 19: 8 Albums You Should Hear Now

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Esperanza Spalding Is The 21st Century's Jazz Genius

Esperanza Spalding performs at the 2011 Montreux Jazz festival in Switzerland. Photo Illustration: A163/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images and Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption

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Photo Illustration: A163/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images and Angela Hsieh/NPR

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+

Esperanza Spalding Is The 21st Century's Jazz Genius

August 28, 2018 • The ways in which Spalding's music is the most radical are perhaps the most easily overlooked: how, through her singing and playing, she challenges gender norms across styles.

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (60-41)

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C Brandon/Redferns via Getty Images

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (60-41)

July 30, 2018 • This list tackles history in the making, celebrating women and non-binary musicians whose songs are redefining genres and attitudes and changing our sense of what popular music can be in this century.

Esperanza Spalding's 'Exposure': A Creative Marathon, Live In The Studio

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Review

Jazz Night In America

Esperanza Spalding's 'Exposure': A Creative Marathon, Live In The Studio

WBGO

September 11, 2017 • Bassist, singer and composer Esperanza Spalding will be in the recording studio for 77 hours, conjuring her next album out of thin air. We'll be watching closely — and so can you.

For Thanksgiving, A Chain Of Musical Gratitude

Clockwise from left: Corey King, Esperanza Spalding, Laura Mvula, Michaela Anne. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Music Interviews

For Thanksgiving, A Chain Of Musical Gratitude

November 24, 2016 • Host Ari Shapiro invites four different musicians — Laura Mvula, Esperanza Spalding, Corey King and Michaela Anne — to discuss a fellow artist they're each grateful for.

For Thanksgiving, A Chain Of Musical Gratitude

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All Songs +1: Our Most Memorable Tiny Desk Jazz Sets

Clockwise from upper left: Esperanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer, The No BS Brass Band, Robert Glasper NPR hide caption

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NPR

All Songs Considered

All Songs +1: Our Most Memorable Tiny Desk Jazz Sets

November 3, 2016 • Patrick Jarenwattananon, former writer for NPR Music's A Blog Supreme, joins us to talk about the most memorable jazz artists to appear at the Tiny Desk.

All Songs +1: Our Most Memorable Tiny Desk Jazz Sets

27:34

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Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

Esperanza Spalding On Piano Jazz

October 21, 2016 • The bassist and singer performs "Prelude To A Kiss" with Marian McPartland in a 2008 session.

Esperanza Spalding On Piano Jazz

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Esperanza Spalding Brings A Real Inner Child Into The Studio

Esperanza Spalding's genre-bending new album, Emily's D+Evolution, is out now. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Music Interviews

Esperanza Spalding Brings A Real Inner Child Into The Studio

March 5, 2016 • "My job is working for her," Spalding says of the namesake character on her new album, Emily's D+Evolution. The jazz bassist and singer wrote her latest music with her childhood self in mind.

Esperanza Spalding Brings A Real Inner Child Into The Studio

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First Listen Live: Esperanza Spalding, 'Emily's D+Evolution'

Esperanza Spalding leads a performance of Emily's D Evolution. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Live in Concert

First Listen Live: Esperanza Spalding, 'Emily's D+Evolution'

WFUV

February 26, 2016 • Fulfilling a proggy, funky and theatrical direction for a power trio, the bassist and vocalist presents the music of her new album live in concert.

Esperanza Spalding, 'Good Lava' (Premiere)

Esperanza Spalding's new album Emily's D+Evolution will be released March 4. Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist

Songs We Love

Esperanza Spalding, 'Good Lava' (Premiere)

January 8, 2016 • The bassist/singer says a curious child-like spirit guides her new album, explains her "flashlight into the future" and her love of the band Cream, and premieres a new song.

01Good Lava

3:37

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