Chamber Music Society

Esperanza Spalding | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 17, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Heads Up
• ASIN: B003OFHMKO
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,906 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #19 in Music > Jazz > Orchestral Jazz

Editorial Reviews

Highly anticipated 2010 album from charismatic bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding. The gifted 25-year-old's second recording for Heads Up International features pianist Leo Genovese and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, with a multitude of string arrangements by Gil Goldstein and Spalding. Special guests include singer Gretchen Parlato and Brazilian legend Milton Nascimento.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 81 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Music for the Intellect September 25, 2010

By Rick Cornell VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Esperanza Spaulding shot off like a rocket with her eponymous debut album in 2008. Yet, for as impressive a young jazz artist as she is, the program there seemed a bit unfocussed. Where was she going to take her unique and most promising talent?

I surmised from the first album that she would probably end up in a "post bop-fusion" mode, exploring and taking off from the early '70's works of such artists as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul and Miles Davis. The live concert of Ms. Spaulding on PBS' "Austin City Limits" seemed to confirm this direction.

But like Miles Davis, Esperanza Spaulding is much too creative and headstrong a musician ever to be pigeonholed; rather, she appears to be one to lead rather than to follow. And this perception is confirmed by this stunning second c.d.

I have listened to it over and over, and not only am I not tired of it, I find myself picking up something new with each listen. Immediately, I'm captivated by the charming duet with another young vocal lioness, Gretchen Parlato, on track 10, Jobim's "Intuil Paisagem." (Incidentally, one of the few non-originals. Really, the only standard is "Wild Is the Wind," track 5, but even it doesn't sound like what you may be used to at all). Likewise, the duet with the immortal Milton Nasciemento, "Apple Blossom," track 6, is captivating.

But the ouerve of this disc is chamber music, really, and the recording belongs more than anything to the combo of Ms. Spaulding's bass, David Eggar's cello, Entho Todorov's violin and Lois Martin's viola. Jazz and string quartets? It absolutely works here. Kudos to executive producer, Gil Goldstein, one of the best in the business, as well of course to co-producer Esperanza....

And Leo Genovese likewise does amazing work on piano. Check out his solo on track 9, "Winter Sun," for example.

I predict a Grammy nomination for this c.d. Granted, the Grammies in jazz (aka the "Shammies") are generally reserved for talent who has made it. But Esperanza Spaulding has already received an hellacious amount of recognition for such a young artist. She richly deserves it, and would deserve the nomination.

I call this "Music for the Intellect," or "Music for the Head." It won't make it on American Bandstand; you won't give it a 95, because you can't really dance to it. But this disc is one of the most intelligent, intellectually challenging recordings I have heard in a long time. Very highly recommended. RC

p.s. - 1/2/11 - This was the only vocal jazz disc of 2010 to make it into Jazz Times' top 40 c.d.'s. (#34) I would have predicted that, in terms of it being #1. Esperanza Spaulding was also nominated as the top new artist. However, the c.d. was not nominated for a Grammy in the vocal jazz category. Can't get 'em all correct....RC Read more ›

36 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTICALLY BEAUTIFUL!!!! September 8, 2010

By Divine

Format:Audio CD

I love all of Esperanza's CDs and what I loved about some of the songs on the previous works were some were so simple and whisical and just wonderful.
What I love about Chamber Music Society is that is anything but simple. Every airspace has music and sound (if that makes sense). Its beautiful and rich and interesting and it envelopes you. The Chamber Music idea was so original! HOW do you add jazz elements to something as boring as chamber music and make it something I cant stop listening to!?!?
Its soooo UNIQUE and INNOVATIVE! And I see her growth in this CD. Its amazing to me.
Because I was introduced to her 3 years ago, I now listen to Jazz music new and old. And work like this is what makes Jazz the best music genre to me. I hope the world takes notice! BRAVO!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Album September 1, 2010

By Roman G. Irvin

Format:Audio CD

This is a great album.
As much as I enjoyed "Esperanza"--her second album--I must say that "Chamber Music Society" is a definitive leap forward. Her voice texture is richer, her compositions/arrangements are beyond impressive, and her musicianship is inspiring. Two thumbs up!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album! September 26, 2010

By Stefan L. Smith

Format:Audio CD

Definitely one that I enjoyed listening to. Has a new sense of cross genre implementation. She uses a canvas that is somewhat foreign to the jazz scene today. Very much in the likes of Billy Childs, I see her having a promising future. Could you imagine the music she and Billy Childs could make? I'm waiting for that album : )

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed May 28, 2011

By Ex Lib

Format:Audio CD

If you like Esperanza Spalding, you'll probably like her latest effort, "Chamber Music Society." In many ways, it builds on the style she's cultivated since her release of "Junjo." While Ms. Spalding is certainly an accomplished musician and excellent singer, I'm not sure she's established a firm sense of who she is as a musician yet. Since "Junjo," and now with "Chamber Music Society," her approach seems to be modal but not quite in the traditional hard bop sense of say a Wayne Shorter or Andrew Hill. I may be missing something but most of the songs here aren't what one could call "blues based" but seem an exercise in chromatic modulation up and down the fingerboard. As a result, there's plenty of "esoteric" harmonies but there's an absence of soul that's present in Shorter, Hill, or Hutcherson. At times, she reminds me of Flora Purim, only without Corea's Fender Rhodes. And that's okay -- she doesn't have to sound like anyone else but herself; I just wonder if the reason why the songs on her albums seem interchangeable is because she hasn't figured out how to break out of the approach to writing and playing that has defined her so far. While I liked "Junjo," "Chamber Music Society" left me a bit disappointed. In fact, insofar as the Grammys are ever "fair," Wynton Marsalis should have taken the award for "Vitoria Suite" before this album. But, perhaps a renewed interest and larger audience for jazz can be affected by Ms. Spalding's popularity.

26 of 38 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Dissent February 2, 2011

By Michael Janocik

Format:Audio CD

I have Esperanza Spalding's debut album and it is wonderful. She's a VERY talented musician, bass player, and singer. I was really looking forward to Spalding developing modern jazz for years to come and I still have hope. However, while there is a lot of interesting and complex composition and playing on Chamber Music, this particular CD struck me as that "experimental" album that many newly-minted, successful musicians feel compelled to record. It struck me as a forced attempt to blend elements of Classical discord with elements of Jazz improvisation. Like Miles Davis said regarding Ornette Coleman - "you've got to have some melody."

There's very little here, musically, other than escoteric, intelletual experimentation and musically, she is brilliant. Such experimentation is vital to creating compelling beautiful music. However, as with any finished product, the mark of a great artist is the judgment to know what should be left on the floor. Much of what should have been left on the floor was recorded. I wish her well and hope she's gotten the experimental itch out of her system. Regarding her Grammy Nominee, yes, I hope she beats Justin Beiber - this CD is far superior to anything Justin Beiber's hair and mixers can put out, but that ain't sayin' much. On this CD, the emporer has no clothes.