On March 20, Heads Up International will release Esperanza Spalding’s new album, Radio Music Society.
Each of the 11 album’s songs is accompanied by conceptual music videos which further express Esperanza’s inspiration and story behind each track. Shot in various locations including New York City; Barcelona, Spain; and Portland, Oregon; all videos will be available to purchasers of Radio Music Society as a digital download or a DVD on the deluxe version.
In addition to longtime partners saxophonist Joe Lovano, keyboard player Leo Genovese and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, the album features jazz drumming legends Jack DeJohnette and Billy Hart; guitar heroes Jef Lee Johnson and Lionel Loueke; an array of vocalists including Algebra Blessett, Lalah Hathaway, Gretchen Parlato, Leni Stern and Becca Stevens; hip-hop artist Q-Tip (who performs on and co-produced two tracks); and two Portland-based musicians, Janice Scroggins and Dr. Thara Memory, who provided essential mentorship in Spalding’s youth.
Four tracks feature the horn section of the American Music Program, a youth big band of musicians age 12 to 18 directed by Spalding’s longtime mentor and teacher Dr. Memory, who conducts and provides horn arrangements.
Radio Music Society is being called a companion, rather than a sequel, to Spalding’s previous disc, Chamber Music Society, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. On the end, just to point out her latest success – on February 13, 2011, Spalding became the first jazz musician to receive the GRAMMY® Award for Best New Artist.
Watch Black Gold video from her new album.