On one of the American discussion rooms, Esperanza Spalding received some pretty unwarranted and viscious criticism which perplexed me as I felt there were other, more obvious targets when it came to criticising musicians who were perceived to have "sold out." For me, the odd thing was that Spalding obviously hasn't compromised musically in the least and is probably the one jazz musician around today who is likely to appeal to a wider and younger audience whilst still earning the kudos from most of the jazz audience. In the light of the praise heeped upon the late Amy Winehouse, the negative remarks are as perverse as the almost hagiohraphical treatment accorded to the tortured English singing. In my opinion, Spalding is head and shoulders above her contemporaries and having had the great fortune to have heard her perform live twice would have to say that the studio performance of "Radio music Society" cannot match the spontanious excited generated in concert. Her gig in 2009 (I think!) was easily the best concert I went to that year and attracted a full house in the venue I was at.
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