Esperanza Spalding - Chamber Music Society

Bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding - backed by drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and pianist Leo Genovese - has created a modern chamber music group that combines the spontaneity and intrigue of improvisation with sweet and angular string trio arrangements. The result is music that weaves the innovative elements of jazz, folk and world music into the enduring foundations of classical music.

'Chamber Music Society' features not only Spalding's virtuoso bass playing but also her wonderful vocals, including duets with special guests Milton Nascimento and Gretchen Parlato. With string arrangements by co-producer Gil Goldstein, it showcases this brilliant young musical talent who isn't afraid to challenge the limits of jazz and its relationship to other forms of musical expression.

Esperanza first took the world by storm in 2008 with her self-titled Heads Up debut recording. Since then she has toured the world (with performances in the UK at the Barbican and Ronnie Scott's), performed at the White House, the 2009 Newport Jazz Festival and was invited by President Obama to perform at the Nobel Prize Ceremony in Oslo.

Personnel: Esperanza Spalding (acoustic bass, vocals), Leo Genovese (piano), Terri Lyne Carrington (drums), Quintino Cinalli (percussion), Ricardo Vogt (guitar), Milton Nascimento (vocals, track 6), Gretchen Parlato (vocals, track 10), Entcho Todorov (violin), Lois Martin (viola), David Eggar (cello)