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Kelly Patterson

March 14, 2016
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No disclaimer is really needed for Esperanza Spalding’s new album Emily’s D+Evolution which is co-produced with acclaimed producer Tony Visconti (Bowie) and boasts of 14 tracks. One look at the albums funk/rock-art imagery and it’s quite plain to see that she has taken a drastic detour from the soulful renditions of jazz standards and Brazilian rhythms that her fans have grown accustomed to. Instead, the talented upright bassist and vocalist has reemerged after a 2 year hiatus as her alter ego “Emily”, which happens to be her middle name. Emily is an even more intriguing artist who successfully merges funk and rock in the same vein as Prince and Janelle Monae. The first release off the new album is the opera-like single “One” that brings to mind the vocal melodies of Joni Mitchell with a beautifully harmonized background and distinctive guitar riffs. Not only has her music made a profound shift, but her signature afro coif has been replaced with long thick braids, colorful glasses that recall her childhood and eclectic outfits that André 3000 would envy. Spalding’s new album does not feel gimmicky though. At her root, she is still a jazz-trained prodigy who seems to be comfortable spreading her wings, flying smoothly or sporadically and landing wherever she chooses. To catch her in flight be sure to see her below 2016 tour dates:

Mar 15 Belasco Theater Los Angeles, CA
Mar 16 Music Box San Diego, CA
Apr 09 Calvin Theater Northampton, MA
Apr 10 Tilles Center For The Performing Arts – Concert Hall Greenvale, NY
Apr 12 Shubert Theatre Boston, MA
Apr 14 Apollo Theater New York, NY
Apr 16 Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ
Apr 17 College Street Music Hall New Haven, CT
Apr 19 9:30 Club Washington, DC
Apr 20 Carolina Theatre Durham, NC
Apr 22 Center Stage Atlanta, GA
Apr 23 Capitol Theatre Clearwater, FL
Apr 24 Knight Concert Hall At The Adrienne Arsht Center Miami, FL
May 28 Seoul Jazz Festival Seoul, Korea, Republic Of
May 30 Club Quattro Osaka Shi, Japan
May 31 Tokyo Zepp Divercity Tokyo, Japan
Jun 03 Melbourne Jazz Festival Melbourne, Australia
Jul 08 Cruilla Barcelona Summer Festival Barcelona, Spain
Jul 21 Molde Jazz Festival Molde, Norway