On December 9, Hancher presented Esperanza Spalding. We emailed ticketholders asking for their reactions to the evening. Here is what we heard.
The most creative modern jazz artist I’ve heard since first hearing Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond in the Main Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union 55 years ago. She made the bass sing as Desmond made the sax sing. And a diva—a little of Diana Ross and even Kathleen Battle.
Allyn Mark
•
Mixed feelings about this. On the positive, she is an extraordinary bassist. I liked the mix of the other accompanying instruments, though their caliber was not the same as Esperanza's. From where I was sitting there was a pretty dreadful harshness in the vocal mic at around 2k to 4k. I'm not sure if it was the mic, the mic pre, or something on the mixing board. I have heard many concerts at the Englert and have not heard this issue before. It really took away from her vocal presentation.
I also felt she was very disconnected from the audience. She did not address them once until the end of the show only to introduce the band members. I like to know what they are playing, when it was written, how it may have been inspired. I heard her interview on KCCK and she has plenty to tell--so connect with the audience and tell them a little about what's going on.
There was also limited diversity in the pieces played. After a while they sounded very similar almost like you were hearing the same piece, but re-scored for another purpose. That certainly was not true of all pieces, but there were too many that were overly similar within a 1.5 hour concert.
I expect that Esperanza will continue to develop her talents and is likely a rising star. I will certainly follow the progression of her likely very successful career.
Richard Rives Bird
•
We were disappointed and left just before intermission. The music was not pleasant and did not flow smoothly. I realize there is jazz out there like this – I didn’t think song after song would be like this.
Mary Jo Pipkin
•
Young, immensely talented, grounded in classical music and jazz, Eperanza Spalding exceeded the expectations listening to her recordings produced. Really talented musicians’ live performances usually make their recordings seem like faint impressions of the real thing; average musicians remind you of the magic that can be performed in the recording studio. It was pretty obvious during the first few minutes what kind of musician this young bassist is.
She was supported by a very strong group of musicians. Classically trained string players rarely “swing”, but the three who played with her seemed equally at home in the jazz as well as the classical idiom. Her pianist and drummer, clearly jazz players, were very good. The second singer complemented Eperanza very well, and showed her talent on the one occasion when she was the featured vocalist.
Spalding moved from the ethereal to an almost Ben Allison-type groove—she showed her versatility and her talent very well over the course of a single set. The only thing I was less enthusiastic about was her stage presence which at times seemed a little too calculated. I longed for her to relax and let go, but her every movement seemed planned and calculated. She’s very early in her career as a band leader and budding superstar. I was willing to look past this mild distraction to concentrate on her music which made for an enchanting and rewarding evening of jazz.
Don Thompson
•
This was one of the most disappointing performances I have seen at Hancher. There is little doubt she is an extremely talented musician, however she made no attempt to connect with the audience. I also found the material extremely repetitious. I don't have a clue about her entrance and exit with the glass of wine. She should attend a performance of the Leahy's or find a video of an Ella Fitzgerald performance to learn a little about connecting with an audience. She is a little too young to be considered a diva. My reaction may be colored somewhat because I am not a big jazz fan but I got a similar reaction from friends I saw after the performance.
H.D. Hoover
•
I really liked her music, but I could not hear her sing. The strings were louder. The balance just didn't work, and I also thought she needed an intermission.
Maurita Mead
•
Esperanza Spalding is a very talented artist. However, the impact of her performance depended a great deal on silence. A couple with four or five small children (from infant to about six) was permitted to sit right behind me. Toddlers cannot be expected to remain quiet and attentive for two hours and they didn't. When two of the children started talking, the father got up and left with them. After alot of talking, shushing from the mother, kicking my seat, etc., I turned around between songs and told her that it was not an appropriate place for small children, and shortly thereafter she had the decency to leave. Nevertheless, their poor judgment spoiled my enjoyment of a significant chunk of the show. I think it is ridiculous that Hancher does not enforce an age limit.
Henry Nathanson
•
The concert was excellent!!! Esperanza is extremely talented and has a unique approach to jazz. She is a breath of fresh air to the jazz scene. The inclusion of Brazilian rhythms and lyrics in Portuguese really makes her an exciting and accomplished artist. Thanks for bringing her to Iowa City!! Let's bring more artists of her stature here in the future.
Dale
•
Oh my!!
Jean Reese
•
Very disappointed. Really like her recordings, but thought the live performance was wooden, not engaging, and dull. Hope she improves with age! Hancher attendees
•
It was fantastic.
Diana
•
Hokey opening but the rest was kewl!
Sherwood
•
I was really anticipating having enthusiastic comments to make about this concert. Your goal is to "connect great artists to great audiences". Through no fault of yours I don't think that connection was made. I was not familiar with Ms. Spalding until your season ticket brochure was mailed. I read as many articles as I could about her background, her amazing accomplishments and her quickly rising star. I was prepared to be dazzled.
I wasn't prepared for her kind of performance art concept that seemed to be scripted from the beginning to the end. It came across to me as a kind of device wherein the audience became voyeurs into Ms. Spalding's strange world of musical imaginings and harmonies. She remained aloof and detached from the audience throughout, not acknowledging their applause or presence until the curtain call where she dutifully announced the names of the other musicians during the applause so that we couldn't understand them. She has an abundance of musical talent and her singing voice was clear and pitch perfect. The musicians who accompanied her were very proficient and spot on rhythmically. Other than that it is difficult to understand or to describe what we witnessed.
Ms. Spalding seems to be marching to her own self absorbed beat and apparently has found a niche that some people can appreciate. I prefer a musician who can relate to the audience by actually speaking once in a while if only to announce the name of the works they are performing. I like to come away from a concert feeling that I know a tiny bit more about an artist as a person as well as their talents. I got none of that Thursday night. Neither did the people around my section who slept through part of it. Iowa City audiences are usually more than generous in giving standing ovations at the end of a performance. Only a few lonely souls stood at this concert and the rest were either leaving the theatre or thought better of it.
Martin
•
Esperaza Spalding was a spectacular music experience! Her talent is beyond superlatives. She fashioned a show that had a coherence, flow, and variety. Bring Iowa City more like Esperaza!
Steve
•
OK, but not great. Not really my kind of music.
William