(Esperanza Spalding - the Jazz world just took a turn for the wow)
I had heard about Esperanza Spalding for the past few years via some colleagues in Europe, mostly Spain. In her comparatively short time on the scene she has created an enthusiastic word of mouth and has been playing sell-out concerts all over Europe.
So of course I was blown away when I finally had a chance to hear her and doubly blown away to find out she's from Portland Oregon and still in her early 20's.
This track, Ponta de Ariea is off her 2008 album, Esperanza available on Heads Up Records. It's a nice change of pace and a pretty good one for a Monday night.
It just goes to prove if you keep an open ear, there is amazing music everywhere.