Siapakah Esperanza Spalding?

Spoiler

Jakarta - Siapakah Esperanza Spalding? Pertanyaan itu masih menggema sampai tiga hari setelah nama tersebut muncul secara mengejutkan sebagai pemenang piala artis pendatang baru terbaik Grammy Awards. Mengejutkan, terutama bagi penggemar fanatik Justin Bieber.

Di situs mikro blongging Twitter, Spalding menjadi perbincangan ramai, dan bertengger di daftar trending topic hingga hari ini. Bagi penggemar Bieber, kemenangan Spalding merupakan "peristiwa ganjil" karena "tak seorang pun tahu siapa dia". Tapi, benarkah dia memang benar-benar "orang asing" di dunia musik?

Di kalangan pecinta musik jazz, nama Esperanza Spalding relatif sangat dikenal. Sosoknya pertama kali menjadi pusat perhatian di acara-acara musik Jazz di New York mulai 2005, dengan rambut kribo tebalnya yang nyentrik, dan alat musik yang dimainkannya, bass.

Segera, foto-fotonya yang berdiri di sisi alat musik betot setinggi tubuhnya beredar di majalah-majalah jazz, dna profilnya muncul di New Yorker, dan disebut-sebut sebagai pembawa 'jazz populis". Lagu-lagunya dinilai "hip" dan kontemporer. Vokalnya yang tinggi kontras dengan alat musik yang dipegangnya.

Lahir di Portland, Oregan, AS pada 18 Oktober 1984, Spalding belajar musik sejak usia dini, pertama kali lewat alat musik violin. Pada usia 20 tahun, ia sudah menjadi pengajar musik di Berklee College of Music. Dalam bermusik, ia menggabungkan berbagai unsur dari R&B, funk, be-bop dan berbagai gaya lainnya.

Spalding meraih piala Best New Artist di ajang Grammy ke-53 lewat album 'Chamber Music Society'. Sebenarnya, ini merupakan album ketiganya. Ia merilis album pertamanya pada 2006, berjudul 'Junjo', dan dua tahun kemudian kembali lewat album 'Esperanza'. Namun, ia memang baru benar-benar dikenal dan diperhitungkan ketika merilis 'Chamber Music Society' pada Agustus 2010.

Dianggap sebagai 'new comer' dan baru dinominasikan sebagai yang terbaik di ajang Grammy setelah album kesekian memang bukan hal baru. Sebelumnya, hal yang sama pernah terjadi pada No Doubt, band yang melambungkan nama Gwen Stefani. Merilis album sejak 1992, baru pada 1997 No Doubt diperhitungkan, dan mendapat penghargaan di Grammy.

Selain menyanyi dan main musik, Spalding juga memproduseri sendiri album 'Esperanza' (2008) yang merupakan debut internasional (2008). Album itu bertahan 70 pekan di tangga lagu jazz kontemporer Billboard, dan tergolong laris secara internasional dari seorang pendatang baru. Benar kata salah seorang penggemar Spalding ketika membalas sinisme penggemar Bieber, "Kalau kamu tidak tahu Esperanza Spanding, tidak lantas membuat dia menjadi bukan siapa-siapa."

(mmu/mmu)

Spoiler

'I really didn't think it was going to be me,' jazz singer/bassist tells MTV News of topping Justin Bieber and Drake for coveted award.By Kara Warner ...

‘I really didn’t think it was going to be me,’ jazz singer/bassist tells MTV News of topping Justin Bieber and Drake for coveted award.
By Kara Warner with reporting by Sway Calloway


Esperanza Spalding wins Best New Artist at the 2011 Grammys
Photo: Getty Images

Who would’ve thought that a young jazz bassist would come in and steal the Best New Artist Grammy out from under the likes of Justin Bieber, Florence and the Machine and Drake? Not too many people, that’s for sure. In fact, gambling mavens Ladbrokes and Bodog placed the odds of Esperanza Spalding winning the award at an unlikely 20-to-1.

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But she did it, and she is the first jazz artist ever to do so.

“I really didn’t think it was going to be me,” a delighted Spalding told MTV News after her win. “I was one of those [surprised] people. … It was so unexpected, that’s the truth. I’m grateful to all my people in my big musical family that have given me so much support and help over the years,” Spalding gushed. “I don’t really think this is for me; it’s for all of us. And I wish they could all be here to put one finger on this with me.”

Since we’re still reeling over the fact that Spalding overcame the tsunami of popularity currently surrounding her fellow nominees, it’s time to take a closer look at this mega underdog-turned-big winner.

The 26-year-old Portland, Oregon, native discovered music at an early age, teaching herself to play the violin at age 5 and playing with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon. She dabbled in the guitar, the oboe and cello before settling on the bass in high school. After putting in time in at both Portland State University and the prestigious Berklee College of Music on scholarships, she broke onto the jazz scene in a big way with her album Chamber Music Society. Though Spalding was primarily known in jazz circles, her Best New Artist Grammy will surely put her on the proverbial music map for a new group of fans.

“I am a bassist, composer and singer,” Spalding explained to MTV News. “I guess that’s the easiest way to describe the music I do. You really just have to hear it. It’s rooted in jazz, but there’s a lot of stuff up in there. You just have to have a taste.”

Not only that, but Spalding joined music legend Prince on his Welcome 2 America Tour. She’s also performed at the White House and was featured in an ad campaign for Banana Republic.

Code:

http://music.detikhot.com/read/2011/02/16/170836/1572281/228/siapakah-esperanza-spalding?nd993304207
http://crazy.worldnewest.com/esperanza-spalding-calls-best-new-artist-grammy-win-unexpected/

 

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