Esperanza (Esperanza Spalding album)

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Esperanza
Studio album by
Esperanza Spalding
ReleasedMay 20, 2008 (2008-05-20)
Recorded2007
StudioWellspring Sound (Acton, Massachusetts) & Big Time Audio (Jonesborough, Tennessee)
Length67:36[1]
Language
  • English
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
LabelHeads Up
ProducerEsperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding chronology
Junjo
(2006) 		Esperanza
(2008) 		Chamber Music Society
(2010)

Esperanza is the second

studio album by American bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding. It was released on May 20, 2008 by Heads Up International.[2]

Having been exposed to many cultures while growing up, Spalding sings in three languages on the album: English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Grammy Award win in February 2011, the album entered the Billboard 200
at 138.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic
[5]
Tom HullB+[6]

Thom Jurek of AllMusic stated, "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."[5] Myles Tanzer in his book Music Is My Life: Soundtrack Your Mood With 80 Artists for Every Occasion commented, "...on that album she sings in three languages, sings her heart out, and plays masterfully."[7] Nate Chinen of Vibe added, "Like the basketball that shares her name, Spalding bounces around. But this album doesn’t make a slapdash show of eclecticism. Spalding has fashioned something cohesive and diverse, calling upon a strong coalition of musicians and the depth of her own skills. It’s clear Esperanza’s definitely got game—and has no hung-ups about showing it."[8] Jeff Winbush of All About Jazz added that the album "flat-out smokes, and showcases the Berklee-trained bassist as potentially one of the more promising young talents in jazz."[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by

Baden Powell
5:11Total length:67:36

Personnel

  • Esperanza Spalding – electric bass, acoustic bass, vocals
  • Fender Rhodes piano
    (track 10)
  • Jamey Haddad – percussion
  • Otis Brown – drums
  • Horacio Hernandez
    – drums (tracks 4 and 8)
  • Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet (tracks 8 and 11)
  • Donald Harrison – saxophone (tracks 6 and 11)
  • Gretchen Parlato – background vocals (tracks 1 and 4)

Chart performance

Esperanza spent over 70 weeks on the

Top Jazz Albums Chart.[9]

Chart (2009–10) Peak
position
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[10] 12
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 37
US Billboard 200[12] 138
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[13] 40
US
Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)[14]
 16
US
Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[15]
 12
US
Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[16]
 3

References

  1. ^ Esperanza at Amazon.
  2. ^ Allmusic review on Esperanza
  3. ^ Ernest Barteldes, "Esperanza Spalding" Archived 2015-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, New Times (Broward Palm Beach), August 14, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Winbush, Jeff. "Esperanza Spalding: Esperanza album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b Allmusic review
  6. ^ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Esperanza Spalding". Tom Hull. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  7. ISBN 978-0-7112-4918-9
    . Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  8. ^ Chinen, Nate (July 2008). "Revolutions". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  9. ^ All Music Guide review of Chamber Music Society
  10. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Esperanza Spalding – Esperanza". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  11. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Esperanza Spalding – Esperanza". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  12. ^ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  13. ^ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  14. ^ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  15. ^ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  16. ^ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
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