Grammy Award-Winner Esperanza Spalding is Pushing the Boundaries of Music | Amanpour and Company

Esperanza Spalding is a force of nature – a bass player and singer who rose to stardom when she became the first jazz performer to win a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2011. Spalding grew up a musical prodigy in Portland, Oregon, where she learned the violin at age five. She has gone on to win four Grammys and to teach at Harvard University. Her newest solo album, 12 Little Spells, is nominated for two Grammy Awards this year. She joins Walter Isaacson to discuss pushing the boundaries of musical genres -- and how sound heals the soul.

Originally aired January 24, 2020.

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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.

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[danielgratz]

She finds a way to bore a hole through every one of his shallow, celebrity-focused questions and takes it to a deeper, more authenic place. Cool as hell.

[mcasasol]

Esperanza Spalding is a force of nature, I cried the whole interview, just acknowledging that she is an impact for good in this world, and how she views her art is such an amazing way of bringing light to this world!!!!

[brileystewart]

She is so articulate and clearly a very kind soul

[chis]

just the way she talks, you can tell she's special...just a cool human

[Skyjuice]

You've got to be on your A-game to hang with this woman's intelligence.

[ruffian]

She is a beacon of light and hope in a very bleak and fearful age.

[jonstewart]

What an astoundingly wonderful person! I love her music, but I had no idea how brilliant she is with words and ideas. More Esperanza, every day.

[YassLegz]

"Well I didn't I was playin classical....you know when you in the water you just in the water ...."❤️

[chloexhallefan]

I love her work and her visions. The new 12 Little Spells album really heals you lol, it does. It leaves a healing sensation on the mind, body and soul - kind of like meditation. I agree, music does heal. Lastly, I admire her awareness and knowledge, I look up to her.✨💙

[cvond]

She's present and listening to her talk is a journey into our own present, even a year after the fact.

[simonrodan]

What makes her so extraordinary - at least to me - is that she is doing something quite unique. First, her ability to sing and play completely different lines is remarkable. She seems to be someone who is pushing and crossing boundaries. Creating a new genre - the mark of real genius.

[gdmcneil]

I love her spirit, her soul...music is a feeling and she is able to make you feel and respond...she is intune with Gods gift...blesses so many including me...twin

[jimmylee]

Thanks for this video.
Esperanza is a very intelligent & talented musician.
God bless you, Esperanza, continue your wonderful music.

[JohnJones-bhwf]

damn she's so fucking smart I love the way she expresses her beliefs

[pfflyer]

All positive thoughts I've seen. She's Beautiful and all of you too. good to see all the words of love.

[k.a.lindsey]

I love her; can't get enough of her version of; stevie wonder's, "overjoyed" she is phenomenal...and a LEGEND.

[bernios]

Whatever interview with her I pick: she always surprises me by the depth of her answers. Such a complete human being!

[jameshamre]

What an amazing talent and thoughtful person. Maybe one of the best educators of Jazz in the new era. Would love to see Esperanza and Wynton Marsalis in the same interview talking about Jazz, heritage and making music! Wow, great interview.

[marsmustang]

What an inspiration to music and it's connection to the goodness of making life better for everyone and at the same time to an individual. Working with space in the sense of music . . . I welcome her journey and support her life waves in also including a healing aspect to her creations. Incredible.

[HMohr]

Esperanza is music physically arranged in human form