Esperanza Spalding taught herself to play the violin at age five, but discovered the bass, her big passion, ten years later. Now known as a singer and gifted bassist, she attended Berklee College Of Music and was asked to become an instructor there immediately after her graduation. Spalding had her big breakthrough with third album Chamber Music Society, gaining the respect of both jazz lovers and a mainstream audience. In 2011, she surprisingly received the Grammy Award for Best Newcomer, beating teen idol Justin Bieber in the process. Radio Music Society is the successor to her 2010 album, and was released last year. Also very successful, the record features a wealth of well-known guest artists, such as saxophonist Joe Lovano, rapper Q-Tip and legendary drummers Billy Hart and Jack DeJohnette. After four previous performances at North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam, Spalding is coming to the Curaçao version for the first time.
