http://larryherzberg.com/wordpress/2010/02/07/esperanza-spalding-wow/ Larry A. Herzberg's Blog Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:03:43 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://larryherzberg.com/wordpress/2010/02/07/esperanza-spalding-wow/comment-page-1/#comment-11142 Larry Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:26:23 +0000 http://larryherzberg.com/wordpress/?p=729#comment-11142 Yeah, Sting is able to sing and play bass pretty well, but Esperanza takes it to a different level, I think. This tune is probably her most "inside", harmonically consonant number. The rest of her album is far more complex melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically. The Austin City Limits show features an interview where she says that she doesn't want to be thought of as just a jazz musician - that her music is for everyone. But jazz musicians are always underestimating how esoteric their approach to music actually is. I like the fact that her music takes great skill to pull off, and an educated ear - or at least an open mind - to appreciate. Yeah, Sting is able to sing and play bass pretty well, but Esperanza takes it to a different level, I think. This tune is probably her most “inside”, harmonically consonant number. The rest of her album is far more complex melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically. The Austin City Limits show features an interview where she says that she doesn’t want to be thought of as just a jazz musician – that her music is for everyone. But jazz musicians are always underestimating how esoteric their approach to music actually is. I like the fact that her music takes great skill to pull off, and an educated ear – or at least an open mind – to appreciate.

]]> http://larryherzberg.com/wordpress/2010/02/07/esperanza-spalding-wow/comment-page-1/#comment-11141 John Whitney Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:04:15 +0000 http://larryherzberg.com/wordpress/?p=729#comment-11141 That is impressive. I've always thought that singing while playing bass is tricky to do, but maybe that's because I'm a mediocre basssist with an almost non-existent singing voice. Still, playing a bass line that moves in a different direction than the melody is a lot like playing counterpoint on a keyboard. My hat is always off to those that can do it well. Sting comes to mind, and Geddy Lee, perhaps. There aren't many that I've seen that can pull it off as impressively as she does. That is impressive. I’ve always thought that singing while playing bass is tricky to do, but maybe that’s because I’m a mediocre basssist with an almost non-existent singing voice. Still, playing a bass line that moves in a different direction than the melody is a lot like playing counterpoint on a keyboard. My hat is always off to those that can do it well. Sting comes to mind, and Geddy Lee, perhaps. There aren’t many that I’ve seen that can pull it off as impressively as she does.

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