Deemed a prodigy as a teenager by contemporary jazz connoisseurs, Spalding in 2011 became the first jazz artist to win best new artist at the Grammys (over fellow nominees Drake and Justin Bieber), and the youngest faculty member ever at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Now 39, she's one of the most heralded jazz artists of her generation, an inspired booking for the Marcus Performing Arts Center's first jazz series concert of the season at Uihlein Hall. Establishing a contemplative environment with an introductory pause, Spalding and company extended the mood through the music, her radiant voice striking a solitary, soaring note — albeit just above a whisper — for a full 12 seconds at the start of set opener "Formwela 1." She subtly strummed her stand-up bass, and Doob gently slid a drumstick against the rim of a cymbal, as Spalding's repetitive elongated vocal notes formed into words, imploring us to "sink into the ground," her poetic phrasing painting a picture of air that had become "miraculously clear," of a calm rising from the "belly of your sway."

The Hejira world music radio show aired Jeff Spitzer-Resnick’s interview of 5 time Grammy award winner esperanza spalding the morning before her show at the Wisconsin Union Theater. he Hejira world music radio show aired Jeff Spitzer-Resnick’s interview of 5 time Grammy award winner esperanza spalding the morning before her show at the Wisconsin Union Theater. [She speaks about her new collaboration with Milton Nascimiento] "I picked songs of his that I love to pieces and haunt me and the ones that I thought hadn’t been overdone, you know, because some of like, you’d really have to have a reason to do Travessia. At this point, it’s been done so many times, so many beautiful ways. Then songs of mine that I thought would be a good counterpoint or a compliment, you know, to the songs of his that to me were really the pillars of the album."

Milton + Esperanza is a profound, exceptional collaboration between Brazilian music legend Milton Nascimento and Grammy-winning bassist and composer Esperanza Spalding. Recorded in Brazil throughout 2023, this 16-track album intertwines Nascimento’s classic Afro-Brazilian roots sound with Spalding’s contemporary jazz vibes, reflecting their shared musical bond. Produced and arranged by Spalding, the album masterfully revisits Nascimento’s well-known songs, introduces brilliant new compositions inspired by his work, and includes engaging reinterpretations of popular hits such as The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” and Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.” These versions are not simply covers, but rather thoughtful reinterpretations that honor the originals while adding Spalding’s inventive perspective.

“Milton + Esperanza,” a warm, almost dreamlike collaboration between Milton "Bituca" Nascimento and the American jazz musician Esperanza Spalding after 15 years of friendship between the two. Spalding arranged and produced the album and plays bass throughout, and the pair sing together on nearly every track. [...] “He has a special essence, and it comes out in the music,” said Spalding [...] “It’s a mystery,” she added, “and it’s beautiful.”

Now 81, Nascimento’s voice has developed into a beautifully rich and vibrato-laden baritone that is the focus of a lively collaboration with bassist and composer Esperanza Spalding, Milton + Esperanza. Across 16 tracks, the pair reimagine compositions from Nascimento’s catalogue, such as 1969’s Outubro and 1972’s Cais, as well as featuring new works with the likes of Paul Simon and Lianne La Havas. [...] Fresh from Iphigenia, her jazz opera with the late Wayne Shorter, Spalding cements her status as a collaborator capable of extracting mighty performances from her elders. Her imaginative musical settings showcase Nascimento’s mature range, producing a late-career masterpiece that highlights the beautiful changes wrought by age.