Esperanza Spalding is a bassist, singer and composer from Portland, United States, working across contemporary jazz, experimental jazz, jazz, jazz fusion, soul, vocal jazz and latin jazz. Born in 1984, she begins her career in small jazz and blues venues in Portland, Oregon, and starts playing acoustic bass at 14. She sings and plays bass, often at the same time.

Early work

Spalding helps form Noise For Pretend, an eclectic group that mixes jazz and pop. The band signs to the indie rock label Hush Records and releases two albums of original material. She also plays in jazz groups and leads her own septet and trio.

In 2002 she joins the hip-hop group Black Science Tribe, which builds a substantial following while touring the West Coast.

Education and professional work

After moving east to study at the Berklee College of Music, Spalding works regularly as a freelance bassist and singer in local and international settings. She earns a B.M. from Berklee and also becomes the youngest faculty member in the college’s history.

Collaborations and performances

Spalding performs with a wide range of musicians, including Michel Camilo, Dave Samuels, Joe Lovano, Regina Carter, Pat Metheny and Patti Austin. She also appears with the Boston Pops and with drummers Bill Stewart, Terri-Lyne Carrington and Mark Walker, guitarist Adam Rogers, saxophonist Seamus Blake and trumpeter Byron Stripling. She performs as an opening act for Bill Cosby.

Recording and recognition

Her debut album as a leader is Junjo, issued on the Barcelona-based jazz label Ayva Music and featuring Aruan Ortiz on piano and Francisco Mela on drums. In 2005 she receives the Boston Jazz Society scholarship for outstanding musicianship. In 2009 she performs at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo at Barack Obama’s request. In 2011 she wins the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, becoming the only jazz musician to receive that award.