To celebrate her birthday month, jazz bassist, cellist and vocalist, Esperanza Spalding is on a special two-week “Thank-You October” tour making a stop at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Wednesday, October 1, at 8 p.m. Joined by long-time collaborators Leo Genovese and Lyndon Rochelle, this intimate trio performance will include selections from her critically-acclaimed releases, Junjo, Esperanza, Chamber Music Society and Radio Music Society. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Esperanza draws upon many genres in her own compositions, and her most recent video is We Are America. This dynamic performer has earned numerous distinctions including a Grammy for Best New Artist making her the first jazz artist to win the award. No. 109 Cheese & Wine will service a wine tasting at 7:15 p.m. during this evening of Art, Wine and Jazz. The work of local artist Pamela Hochstetter will be displayed courtesy of Watershed Gallery. This event is part of the No. 109 Cheese & Wine “Art, Wine and Jazz” Series. Piccolo's Pizza & Pasta Jazzeria (24 Prospect St., Ridgefield) will pour a complimentary glass of wine with dinner the night of this show when ticket is presented.
Hailed as a prodigy on the acoustic double bass within months of first touching the instrument as a 15-year-old, Esperanza Spalding has emerged as a fine jazz bassist, but has also distinguished herself playing blues, funk, hip-hop, pop fusion, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban styles as well. She was the best-selling contemporary jazz artist of 2011, and her album Chamber Music Society was the best-selling contemporary jazz album. Her ability to perform in various genres was showcased when she sang the Louis Armstrong standard “What A Wonderful World” at the 84th Academy Awards alongside the Southern California Children's Chorus. She has been honored with several distinctions including a Grammy for Best New Artist at the 53rd Grammy Awards making her the first jazz artist to win the award. At the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies, Spalding performed to honor the 2009 Laureate President Barack Obama and was personally selected by Obama, as per the tradition of one laureate-invited-artist to perform. Spalding also was the featured final act for the opening night of the 2009 Park City Jazz Festival in Park City, UT and closed the show with bass artists Brian Bromberg and Sean O'Bryan Smith. And there was that tribute to Prince where Spalding was invited to sing along with Patti LaBelle, Alicia Keys and Janelle Monáe.