Small anniversary for big album

Radio Music Society shows Esperanza Spalding as a pop jazz star with prestigious guests like Terri Lyne Carrington, Jack DeJohnette and Joe Lovano.

Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society (Concord jazz, 2022)

Singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding was someone who took some time to get a grasp on as she rose to fame more than a decade ago. I think I first noticed her as the bassist in saxophonist Joe Lovano´s modern jazz quintet Us Five. Then there was this pop jazz singer with the same name who released albums  with original music in the tradition of Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, and other modern singer-songwriters.

On Radio Music Society from 2012 there is genuine hit material, like Radio Song, Black Gold, and City of Roses. So much so that I think it is strange that she do not get the pop star treatment. Maybe it is because the Grammy jury decided to give her the prize for best vocal jazz album instead of best vocal pop album.

Maybe it is her own fault as well. I mean, which other pop star could come up with the idea to put lyrics to a Wayne Shorter song as she does on his Endangered Species which actually produces one of the funkiest and thought provocative tracks on the album since the endangered species in Spalding´s lyrics is mankind.

Wonderful Spalding

The jazz connection is also obvious in the many lovely horn arrangements and solos on the album. Joe Lovano succeeds in maintaining his own robust modern jazz style and still fit in with was in going on around him. Terri Lyne Carrington and Jack DeJohnette is featured as drummers and they lock in perfectly with Spalding´s own very melodic funky, mostly electric, bass lines.

The other cover on the album is I Can´t Help It by Stevie Wonder. Wayne Shorter and Stevie Wonder, it sort of seems to sum up her influences. I really think she is a singer-songwriter with similar talents as Stevie Wonder even if that is a heavy comparison to make. Every time I listen to this album I am taken by the songwriting, arrangements, and Spalding´s singing and bass lines.

Now the album gets reissued on vinyl since it turns 10 years. If you like similar artists which travels this kind of fine line between jazz and pop, like Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan, then this album is surely for you.