Artist

Esperanza Spalding

Wins

5

Nominations

12

Category

Composing/Arranging General Jazz Music Video/Film

Biography

"Jazz has always been a melting pot of influences and I plan to incorporate them all."

  • Born Esperanza Emily Spalding Oct. 18, 1984, in Portland, Oregon
  • After her GRAMMY win for Best New Artist for 2010, Spalding's third album, Chamber Music Society, re-entered the Billboard 200 at No. 34 and became the best-selling contemporary jazz album of the year. 
  • Spalding earned her first GRAMMY win for Best New Artist for 2010. 
  • Spalding became the youngest faculty member at the Berklee College of Music at age 20.
  • Spalding performed with GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session students during GRAMMY Week in 2012. She also participated in GRAMMY U SoundChecks installments, having a discussion and live performance with students, in New York (2012), Washington, D.C., (2013) and New Orleans (2016).
  • The bassist/singer organized a benefit concert for Free the Slaves, an organization that raises awareness about slavery worldwide. She donated a portion of the proceeds from her spring 2013 tour to environmental group Earthjustice.

All Grammy Awards and Nominations for Esperanza Spalding

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    Milton + esperanza

    Milton Nascimento, Esperanza Spalding

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album

    Alive At The Village Vanguard

    Fred Hersch, Esperanza Spalding

  • Best Jazz Performance

    But Not For Me

    Fred Hersch, Esperanza Spalding

  • Best Jazz Instrumental Album

    Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival

    Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, Wayne Shorter, Leo Genovese

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album Winner

    Songwrights Apothecary Lab

    Esperanza Spalding, Fernando Lodeiro

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album Winner

    12 Little Spells

    Esperanza Spalding, Fernando Lodeiro

  • Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

    12 Little Spells (Thoracic Spine)

    Esperanza Spalding

  • Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals Winner

    City Of Roses

    Thara Memory, Esperanza Spalding

  • Best Music Film

    Radio Music Society

    Esperanza Spalding, Pilar Sanz

  • Best Jazz Vocal Album Winner

    Radio Music Society

    Joe Ferla, Esperanza Spalding, Fernando Lodeiro

  • Best Jazz Instrumental Album

    Bird Songs

    Otis Brown III, Francisco Mela, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, James Weidman, Joe Lovano/Us Five

  • Best New Artist Winner

    Esperanza Spalding

The Grammys are more than just Awards

Grammy Advocacy

Defending creators’ rights while shaping a future of responsible innovation
Get Involved