Esperanza Spalding Wins Best New Artist Grammy
Click on the photo of Esperanza Spalding '05 to enlarge it and view a slideshow of her years at Berklee.
Photo provided by the artist
From Spalding's 2004 student profile on Berklee.edu.
Photo by Liz Linder
Spalding performs at the 2005 Roxbury Community College Rising Starr Jazz Series.
Photo by Phil Farnsworth
The alumna returns. Spalding performs at Berklee's David Friend Recital Hall in 2009.
Photo by Phil Farnsworth
Spalding addresses an audience in 2005.
Photo by Phil Farnsworth
In 2005
Photo by Phil Farnsworth
During 2009 performance
Photo by Phil Farnsworth
Taking a solo in 2005
Photo by Phil Farnsworth
Spalding in 2003.
Photo by Nick Balkin
The Berklee Scholarship Jazz group in 2004. From left: Andrew Jones '04, Donald Lee '06, Hidemi Murase '04, Esperanza Spalding '04, Nir Felder '05, and Percussion Department Assistant Chair Yoron Israel
Photo by Nick Balkin
Spalding introduces herself to honoree Ron Carter after Berklee's commencement concert in 2005.
Photo by Phil Farnsworth
Making history as the first jazz musician to capture the Best New Artist Grammy, bassist, vocalist, and composer Esperanza Spalding '05 earned the coveted honor on Feb. 13, edging out higher profile artists Justin Bieber, Florence & the Machine, Drake, and Mumford & Sons. This marks the second time a Berklee alumna was recognized with this award; Paula Cole '90 was the recipient in 1997.
Among several other Berklee alumni to win Grammys this year, Spalding is keeping good company, bringing the college alumni's cumulative Grammy honors to over 200.
"I can hardly express what a surprise and thrill it was Sunday night to receive my first Grammy," says Spalding. "I am still overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude for all of the people who believed in my music and who voted for me. This is a truly inspiring moment!"
Spalding recognized the significance of winning the award as a jazz artist. "We all know that jazz artists aren't typically nominated in this category, so that alone is special about the award this year," she says.
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Spalding was first inspired to pursue music after seeing Yo-Yo Ma perform on Mister Roger's Neighborhood at the age of 5. She learned classical violin for a decade before discovering the bass at 15, and started making her mark as a working musician before coming to Berklee, where she began exploring her own signature sound. She's collaborated with the likes of Patti Austin, Prince, Herbie Hancock, and Stevie Wonder, and performed at the White House, earning accolades from President Barack Obama. Berklee's president Roger H. Brown told Down Beat magazine that Spalding "incorporates her voice with her instrument in a way in which neither is the accompanist."
Spalding is hopeful that the spotlight of her win will cast an awareness on the scope of jazz. "Someone who saw the telecast and says, 'Esperanza who?' might go and check out my record. Well, the next record they thumb through in the 'S's in the jazz section will be completely different. That's what makes this music so exciting, and I bet people who don't consider themselves jazz lovers would love a lot of what's happening right now if they just got a chance to hear it—which would, of course, require the music and artists to get some more publicity. So may this bright moment for me also be a bright moment for my colleagues."
Read Spalding's former Berklee teachers' memories of her student days at Berklee Blogs.
VIDEO FROM THE GRAMMYS
Interview with Esperanza Spalding
FROM BERKLEE.EDU
VIDEO
Spalding performs in a 2009 White House tribute to Stevie Wonder.
Spalding performs on Austin City Limits in 2009.
After Spalding made her first appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, the host called her, "The coolest person we've ever had on the show."