First, in case you hadn’t heard, this isn’t your father’s Esperanza Spalding, who 1)has played acoustic jazz bass for the likes of Tom Harrel and Geri Allen 2) mixes modern classical with indie jazz or 3) melds Latin R&B with jazz grooves. No, this time around, Ms. Spalding takes on the personal of a new creation, and this album is a kind of story about “Emily.”
The recent tour is like a jazz theatre, with Spalding using stories and moods along with funky dance grooves. The team here of Matthew Stevens/g, Karriem Riggins-Justin Tyson/dr and various vocalists take you on a whirlwind tour ranging from heavy metal on “Good Lava” and “Fear the Funk” to R&Bish “Earth To Heaven” and a mid careerish sounding Joni Mitchell on “Farewell Dolly.”
What’s most striking, and rarely discussed about Spalding, is how clean and pure her voice is. It’s spotlighted here and is a treasure on “One” and “Elevate Or Operate” while she also does a good go at the indie scene on “Unconditional Love.” Her electric bass, usually ignored by the jazz junkies, is impressive here as on the irresistibly grooved “Judas.” Like with Alexander the Great, you wonder what next world she may want to conquer.
Concord Music Group