Esperanza Spalding - New Album 'Radio Music Society' released on March 19, 2012
Single "Black Gold" - March 19
London Koko - May 28
When relative unknown singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding defied all odds and beat off competition from Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence & The Machine and Mumford & Sons to win the 2011 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, stunned music critics, fans and bloggers alike took to the web to express their amazement at what was, seemingly, one of the biggest upsets in the history of the awards.
Esperanza Spalding to release new album Radio Music Society
As the news travelled around the world, pop music fans scratched their heads and furious Bieber fans vandalized Spalding's Wikipedia page, whilst those already familiar with her music revelled in the news that gave long overdue reward to an artist possessed of a singular and style-spanning presence that was always destined to make her a star.
On March 19, 2012 Spalding will release her fourth studio album Radio Music Society, her most diverse, ambitious and masterful collection yet.
The music is realized by many of the supremely gifted musicians who comprise Spalding's ever-expanding universe, including hip-hop giant Q-Tip, who performs on and co-produced two tracks, jazz legends Joe Lovano, Jack DeJohnette and Billy Hart, guitar heroes Jef Lee Johnson and Lionel Loueke, and an array of vocal luminaries including Lalah Hathaway and Gretchen Parlato.
Her new single "Black Gold" is also released on March 19.
Here's Esperanza's words about the track:
"This song is singing to our African American heritage before slavery. Over the decades, so much of the strength in the African American community has seeded from resistance and endurance. I wanted to address the part of our heritage spanning back to pre-colonial Africa and the elements of Black pride that draw from our connection to our ancestors in their own land. I particularly wanted to create something that spoke to young boys."
Esperanza Spalding - "Black Gold" video:
Esperanza is set to bring her incredible live set up to London Koko on May 28, 2012 for a headline show.
"She has dizzying possibilities, is prodigiously talented, and has a gorgeously expressive voice." - The Daily Telegraph
Photo credit: Carlos Pericas courtesy of Montuno
Esperanza Spalding Official Website
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