Overview
Five-time GRAMMY award-winning vocalist, bass player and composer esperanza spalding kicks off her highly anticipated return tour to Australia at QPAC for a very special one-night-only performance.
One of the most unique talents in music today, esperanza has created a jazz oeuvre that seamlessly fuses soul, funk, pop and rock into an intoxicating musical blend.
Emphasising simplicity and intimacy of her voice, bass, and songs, in this special configuration of two musicians and two dancers, she performs music from all eight of her previous albums, a selection from her current releases, plus a special preview of her forthcoming project.
esperanza became the first jazz musician to win the GRAMMY for Best New Artist (2011), beating out Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence & the Machine and Mumford and Sons. She has since won the GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Album an impressive three times, most recently in 2022.
Her latest album Milton + esperanza is a collaboration with legendary Brazilian singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento. With tracks in both English and Portuguese, the album features a mixture of classics from Milton’s catalogue, new songs from esperanza, and covers from other artists including The Beatles and Michael Jackson.
esperanza is no stranger to collaborating with icons, having previously performed with Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, John Legend, Alicia Keys and Janelle Monáe to name a few.
This is a rare opportunity to see one of the world’s great musicians – don’t miss out!
About esperanza spalding
esperanza spalding (a.k.a. irma nejando) is an eaabibacliitoti* artist, trained and initiated in the North American (masculine) jazz lineage and tradition. Her work interweaves various combinations of instrumental music, improvisation, singing, composition, poetry, dance, therapeutic research, storytelling, teaching, restorative urban land & artist-sanctuary custodianship, and growing in love as a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, auntie, great-auntie, friend.
*European-African ancestored being influenced by American cultures living in Indigenous Territories of Turtle Island.