Esperanza (Esperanza Spalding album)

Last updated
Esperanza
Esperanza Spalding Esperanza.jpg
Studio album by
Esperanza Spalding
ReleasedMay 20, 2008 (2008-05-20)
Recorded2007
StudioWellspring Sound (Acton, Massachusetts) & Big Time Audio (Jonesborough, Tennessee)
Length67:36 [1]
Language
  • English
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
Label Heads Up
Producer Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding chronology
Junjo
(2006)		Esperanza
(2008)		 Chamber Music Society
(2010)

Esperanza is the second studio album by American bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding. It was released on May 20, 2008 by Heads Up International. [2]

Contents

Having been exposed to many cultures while growing up, Spalding sings in three languages on the album: English, Spanish and Portuguese. [3] After Spalding's Grammy Award win in February 2011, the album entered the Billboard 200 at 138.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Tom Hull B+ [6]

Thom Jurek of AllMusic stated, "On this recording she seeks to widen her musical adventure at every turn, but she does it with such with taste, refinement, and a playful sense of humor that virtually anyone who encounters this offering will find not only much to delight in, but plenty to be amazed by as well." [5] Myles Tanzer in his book Music Is My Life: Soundtrack Your Mood With 80 Artists for Every Occasion commented, "...on that album she sings in three languages, sings her heart out, and plays masterfully." [7] Nate Chinen of Vibe added, "Like the basketball that shares her name, Spalding bounces around. But this album doesn’t make a slapdash show of eclecticism. Spalding has fashioned something cohesive and diverse, calling upon a strong coalition of musicians and the depth of her own skills. It’s clear Esperanza’s definitely got game—and has no hung-ups about showing it." [8] Jeff Winbush of All About Jazz added that the album "flat-out smokes, and showcases the Berklee-trained bassist as potentially one of the more promising young talents in jazz." [4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Esperanza Spalding except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ponta de Areia" Milton Nascimento, Fernando Brant 5:39
2."I Know You Know" 3:46
3."Fall In" 3:57
4."I Adore You" 7:27
5."Cuerpo y Alma (Body & Soul)" Edward Heyman, Robert Sour 8:01
6."She Got to You" 4:29
7."Precious" 4:24
8."Mela" 6:57
9."Love in Time" 5:47
10."Espera" 4:40
11."If That's True" 7:33
12."Samba em Preludio" Vinícius de Moraes, Baden Powell 5:11
Total length:67:36

Personnel

Chart performance

Esperanza spent over 70 weeks on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums Chart. [9]

Chart (2009–10)Peak
position
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [10] 12
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [11] 37
US Billboard 200 [12] 138
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [13] 40
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard) [14] 16
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [15] 12
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard) [16] 3

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References

  1. ↑ Esperanza at Amazon.
  2. ↑ Allmusic review on Esperanza
  3. ↑ Ernest Barteldes, "Esperanza Spalding" Archived 2015-02-05 at the Wayback Machine , New Times (Broward Palm Beach), August 14, 2008.
  4. 1 2 Winbush, Jeff. "Esperanza Spalding: Esperanza album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz . Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 Allmusic review
  6. ↑ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Esperanza Spalding". Tom Hull . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  7. ↑ Tanzer, Myles (4 February 2020). Music Is My Life: Soundtrack your mood with 80 artists for every occasion. Wide Eyed Editions. p. 98. ISBN   978-0-7112-4918-9 . Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  8. ↑ Chinen, Nate (July 2008). "Revolutions". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  9. ↑ All Music Guide review of Chamber Music Society
  10. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Esperanza Spalding – Esperanza". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Esperanza Spalding – Esperanza". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
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