Esperanza Spalding & David Bowie, One Year Later

Esperanza

Esperanza Spalding is a singer/songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist, a librettist, a Grammy winner, and much more. She joins Jim and Greg for a candid conversation about exploding genres and creating her theatrical new record. Plus, the music and legacy of David Bowie, one year after his death.

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Esperanza Spalding

Esperanza Spalding exploded onto the jazz scene as a bass prodigy, recording her debut album in 2006 and winning the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2011. But she's never been satisfied being just one thing. Her many talents include being a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, librettist, and more. Her music ignores genre boundaries, freely incorporating funk, R&B, classical music, and progressive rock. She's even introduced a theatrical element with her latest album, Emily’s D+Evolution..

Jim and Greg sit down this week with Esperanza Spalding for a spirited chat about the new record. She also discusses her collaborations with legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter, the challenges of being taken seriously as a female musician, and the moment she discovered the bass was for her.

Music News

Bowie
Remembering Bowie, One Year Later

Almost a year after his death, David Bowie is back on people's minds. His final studio album, Blackstar, dominated music critics' Best Albums of 2016 lists. Jim and Greg look back on the legacy of David Bowie and reevaluate Blackstar. Does it hold up when removed from the immediacy of Bowie's death? Greg says yes, Jim says no.

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