Who Is Esperanza Spalding, Grammy Best New Artist Winner?

By Zach Dionne Posted Feb 13th 2011 10:45PM

Who is Esperanza Spalding? The 26-year-old jazz bassist who snatched the Best New Artist Grammy out of the hands of Justin Bieber, that's who.

Although cameras quickly cut away, Bieber's disappointment at the announcement seemed clear. The AP reports Spalding had just one Grammy nomination entering the show's 53rd annual ceremony Sunday night.

Drake, Mumford & Sons and Florence and the Machine were also nominated. While a lot of people will spend the wake of Bieber's Best New Artist loss figuring out who Spalding is, there's little doubt she's extremely talented.

"From the time Esperanza Spalding appeared on the scene in 2005, the dynamic singer, bassist, composer and arranger has been heralded as jazz's next big thing," the AP wrote in a lead-up to the Grammys. "Her impressive musicianship has won her White House recital dates, praise from the likes of Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock, and critical acclaim."

"I am new in that I haven't been around that long, and I'm an artist," Spalding told AOL's Spinner in January, following her Grammy nomination. "So it fits. Somebody out there thinks that in their mind that I am one of the best. It's flattering. I'll take it."

Spalding's third album, 'Chamber Music Society,' dropped in the summer of 2010. Co-producer Gil Goldstein told the AP of Spalding's nomination, "I've been kind of joking, saying it would be nice that if once in a while, the best new artist would be someone who reads and writes [music]."

See a music video for Esperanza Spalding's 'Little Fly':

Spinner's in-depth interview with Spalding gave a solid glimpse into her career: "I like to work. I like music," she explained. "The real issue is that the solo career is the odd man out in my life right now. I have much more experience playing bass for other bandleaders than leading my own gigs, and I love being a sideman just as much. That's why I got into music. It wasn't to become my own phenomenon; it was to play music with other people. So whomever wants to play with me, and I can, and I'm into it, and inspired? Then off I go."

Did Esperanza's Win Pique Your Interest Or Confuse You? Tell Us!

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Tags: Best New Artist, Esperanza Spalding, Grammys

Comments

(99)

Sunday 13 February

By RMI

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

With any luck the music industry (read monopoly) will continue to implode and artists can finally have the careers they deserve instead of a team of manufacturers forcing us to listen to their product.

By Classy

I agree. There hasn't been anyone like her in years.

By Katherine

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

uh.....2006 isn't "new"

boo.

Monday 14 February

By Katie

Justin Beiber was discovered in 2008. His first single was released in 2009. FYI.

By BassLover

She is known by real music lovers, by those who don't only listen to "hot 99" -LOL

By David Nieland

How about that? The music award went to a real musician! I'm thrilled!

By Tell It Like It Is

How long will Bieber remain in "new" category? Winner gave inspiring, from the heart acceptance. Beautiful, obviously talented. Usher and Bieber were poised 2 get. Glad they didn't. Right choice made. Enough Bieber already. Getting "old" now.

By Andrew

Fantastic development. Spalding is an excellent musician, and this renews my hope for ridiculous awards shows like the Grammys.

By Elaine Holt

I'm thrilled. Esperanza deserves it. I hope she has a long career. Can't wait to see her perform at
the Portland Jazz Festival in a couple of weeks!

By Muggy

I truly believe Justin Bieber was used by the Grammies to prompt ratings with the teen weenie set. There is absolutely no way the Grammies could award Justin Bieber and keep their credibility (Not that the Grammies have any to begin with). The Grammies nominate just enough popular artist to lure viewers in...then wham they award their own esoteric insider taste. The American music scene is dead anyway, all of it is overproduced garbage.

Wednesday 16 February

By Obsnow

Vote down Vote up Report this

Beiber is a JOKE a teenie fad who will not be around when he turn's 21!

By halhobbs

She's a real musician and a great one. I'm impressed that someone in that horrible establishment saw fit to honor her. Hope she stays real and doesn't let some outfit try to manage her away from her instincts and make a quick buck off of her. I must say that that was the worst outfit I've ever seen. She should get rid of whoever hooked her up with it. Looked like they had a bunch of material left over and piled it up on her back.

By ar

Thank you real music

By Jimbo

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

So poor lil' Justin didn't get the biggest fruit of his spoils. It actually took a real musician to actually steal that fruit from him. Plus, at least Arcade Fire didn't give the lame-o Lady Antibellum the time of day for Album of the Year. Wow, real talent and skill trumps over fame and lack of skills.

Great to see Arcade Fire get the award from Striesand and Kristofferson. Sweet

By Jaye E

Why do people keep insisting that Bieber's not a musician? He plays instruments and he sings (quite well, in fact). I'm not a fan, but I will give credit where it's due. He may not be on Esperanza Spalding's level, but he most certainly is a musician.

Tuesday 15 February

By jay

While Bieber has talent, his success is more based on marketing. His voice is ok at best and his dancing ability is ok at best. I told my son before the awards last night that the academy would not reward him with a grammy. The old guard at the Academy is tired of giving awards to artists who have success based on marketing instead of ability to perform or write great songs.

By Lumicite

Amazing, a woman who had talent and a beautiful voice won a coveted award that is supposed to celebrate talent and the abiiity to sing. Hope is not dead. Congratulations.

By diplobrat

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

She's ALMOST Norah Jones. Perhaps she'll get better.

By Emily

I actually thought the same thing. I like Nora Jones overall, but I get bored after about 2 minutes of listening to her. Esperanza's voice is very similar, but I get bored in about 5 seconds.

By vgomez387267

i dont understand why she would win, when she OBVIOULSY isnt a new artist 2005 was quite a while ago., Best New Artist was NOT the best nomination to put her in, and for her to beat justinbieber thats crazy. he has put 3 albums out, a book, and a movie, in ONE year that is what most people call BEST NEW ARTIST.!

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