Nearly a year has passed since we saw Esperanza Spalding's joyous and soulful performance at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue. The soon-to-be 26-year old's star continues to shine with performances at the world's most prestigious venues and festivals, both as a leader of a very gifted band and as a bassist to jazz greats such as Joe Lovano. more ›

Esperanza Spalding is clearly enjoying life. Why shouldn't she? At just 25 years-old, she already has two White House East Room performances to her credit, and will be performing at this month's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. This, in addition to being the youngest musician given a professorship at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, two albums as a bandleader, a touring schedule that takes her to first class venues around the world, and being anointed the jazz world's Next Big Thing. more ›

Every now and then a young musician comes along and accomplishes so much, so quickly, that the rest of us are forced to wonder what we are doing with our lives. That is the position in which we found ourselves when, during a recent interview, we tried to hide our envy while asking Esperanza Spalding what it was like to perform at the White House earlier this year before the President, first lady, and Stevie Wonder, at a ceremony awarding Wonder the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. more ›