esperanza spalding

esperanza spalding

Esperanza Spalding, the 25-year-old bassist and singer whose been hard at work enlivening a tired genre, was hand-picked to perform at the reception following President Barack Obama's acceptance of the Prize. Although Nobel receptions traditionally feature more classical fare, organizers felt that, in the words of Nobel Committee Secretary Geir Lundestad, because “we have a new type of laureate, we’ll have a new type of music.”

Esperanza Spalding has made quite a name for herself in her short career. At 25, she's already recorded 2 albums and taught at Berklee right here in Boston. Not to mention having made fans out of Barack and Michelle Obama.

Featuring guest appearances by such monster players as shredmeisters Steve Vai and Eric Johnson, bassist-vocalists Esperanza Spalding and Richard Bona, jamband organ trio Medeski Martin & Wood and monster drummers Dave Weckl, Terri Lyne Carrington and Cindy Blackman, the effort finds Stern dealing out some of his most fiery playing in recent memory. Stern brings longtime collaborator Weckl, as well as trumpet vet Randy Brecker and virtuoso bassist Tom Kennedy to ignite the Oakland club's stage for four nights this weekend.