Esperanza Spalding

Fun Facts: Spalding attended Portland State University and completed her bachelor's degree in three years. Almost immediately after graduation, she was hired by Berklee College of Music, becoming one of the youngest professors in the institution's history.

Claim to Fame: Professional bassist and singer, Esperanza, has released two albums; “Junjo” in 2006 and “Esperanza” in 2008.

Esperanza Spalding is an American jazz bassist and singer.



Spalding grew up in the King neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, a neighborhood she herself describes as "ghetto" and "pretty scary." Her mother, who raised her and her brother as a single parent, was an independent, industrious woman.

Spalding is of African-American, Welsh and Spanish descent, and describes this as a diverse ethnic heritage that includes "Welsh, Hispanic, and Native American roots in addition to the unidentified roots from Africa." Spalding notes that these influences, along with many other factors in her life, have come together to shape her into who she is. and respects the artistry inherent in language, commenting specifically, "With Portuguese songs the phrasing of the melody is intrinsically linked with the language, and it?s beautiful".

Her mother shares Spalding's interest in music, having nearly become a touring singer herself. But while Spalding cites her mother as a powerful influence who encouraged her musical expansion, she attributes her inspiration for pursuing a life to watching classical cellist Yo Yo Ma perform on an episode of Mister Rogers? Neighborhood when she was four.


Spalding had intended to play cello, The school was not a good fit, but the bass was. Spalding says that for her discovering the bass was like "waking up one day and realizing you?re in love with a co-worker." Her band teacher showed her a blues line for the bass which she later used to secure her first gig. In a 2008 interview, she said, "hat can be difficult is being a singer, in the sense that you are engaged with the audience, and really responsible for emoting, and getting into the lyrics, melody, etc and being an effective bassist/band leader." she considered leaving music and entering political science, As a teacher, Spalding tries to help her students focus their practice through a practice journal which can help them recognize their strengths and what they need to pursue.

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