Third time's the charm for Esperanza Spalding whose musical trajectory has slowly, quietly, and surely gotten her everywhere.
Oprah, the White House, and top jazz collaborations have all been on Esperanza's agenda lately. The 25 year old Jersey musician released her first album at the age of 21. The girl has chops and soul, and you'd be a fool not to notice it. While there are many other talented jazz singers, it's the way that Esperanza has fused jazz music with other elements that has allowed her to cross over. Usually, crossing over means sacrificing your soul to the Gods of Pop and other mainstream deities. No, this girl took her upright bass and Latin jazz roots, and incorporated it with classical music. Hence the title Chamber Music Society.
If you have yet to be fully acquainted with jazz, feeling like the genre is just a jumble of noise, then this is the album for you. If you're savvy to the genre, then this is also the album for you. Soothingly nudged by her vocals, the instruments intertwine to create a worldly mix. Take "Wild is the Wind", which combines tango, impeccable strings, and seducing vocals all while avoiding the realms of predictability. “Chacarera” enhances the pace with the steady groove of the cello, and Esparanza's intense scatting.
I could go keep on going about the rest of 9 tracks in the album, but the music is so rich in texture that you need hear it for yourself. The name Esperanza sounds rough coming from the tongue, but her voice and music are far from that.
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