How stunned were you when Esperanza Spalding took home the Best New Artist Grammy last year? Not that I was expecting Justin Bieber to win (not only did he not deserve it, but teen pop singers never win Grammys unless they are ridiculously talented along the lines of Christina Aguilera), but I thought Drake had a chance. Spalding was the last name on my mind.
Anyhow, the bass-playing musician got a sizable jump in popularity (as well as some serious hate mail from Bieber fans) after her win. She’d already racked up some serious credits, including a stint supporting Prince (which was where I saw her live for the first time.) Her album, Chamber Music Society, didn’t set the charts on fire, but it sold way more than a jazz album would normally sell in the 21st century, and it set the stage for her new album, Radio Music Society, which comes out on March 20th.
The first single, “Black Gold” (released just in time for Black History Month) features vocalist Algebra Blessett (resisting…urge…to…side-eye) and is a sumptuous piece of mellow soul, perfect for Sunday morning listening. Why I’m not posting it on a Sunday? I dunno. Anyway, go ahead and listen!
…and oh, snap…there’s a video!