With her voluminous halo of corkscrew curls and lithe physique, bassist and violinist Esperanza Spalding could easily parlay her good looks into a career in fashion or a pop music. But the 25-year-old musician’s interests lay elsewhere in a world where chamber music, international cultures, language and jazz collide.
Spalding made global headlines in 2008 with her self-titled debut, which spent more than 70 weeks on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. A whirlwind of magazine covers, TV appearances and two appearances at the White House followed. Now, the Oregon-born tri-talent (vocalist/bassist/violinist) is set to release Chamber Music Society, an album that blends folk, jazz and various international music forms with the string instruments.
Co-produced by Esperanza and Gil Goldstein, Chamber Music Society includes a diverse congregation of musicians, including pianist Leo Genovese, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and percussionist Quintino Cinalli, in addition to a string trio and other vocalists.
For Spalding, the album feels like a homecoming. “So much of my early musical experience was spent playing chamber music on the violin, and it’s a form of music that I’ve always loved,” the singer said in a statement. “I was very inspired by a lot of classical music, and chamber music in particular. I’m intrigued by the concept of intimate works that can be played and experienced among friends in an intimate setting.”
On Oct. 3, Spalding will introduce her unique approach to a centuries-old music style at the Lincoln Theatre, where she’ll perform songs from her latest album and debut CD. And even as she tours the world promoting her most recent work, Spalding has another project in the works – Radio Music Society. Set for release in the fall of 2011, {Radio Music Society} will be Spalding’s interpretation of funk, hip-hop, rock and music that has no genre.
Esperanza Spalding appears at the Lincoln Theatre Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35-$85. The theatre is located at 1215 U St. N.W. For tickets call 202-328-6000.