Esperanza Spaulding Performance Review

Last night I had the privilege to view some of the most outstanding young talent that I have seen in a great while. In an era of mostly Pop and Hip Hop “Esperanza Spaulding” is a welcomed breath of fresh air. The setting was also electric and perfectly intimate for this type of performance. The venue was the Samueli Center, located at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.  The crowd was a diverse one with all ages and ethnicities attending. Once Esperanza hit the stage she captivated the audience from the very first note. Not only her music but also stage presence was masterful with her quirky overtones. Throughout the show she never lost the audience for not one step, even taking time to pay homage to the late king of pop Michael Jackson with her rendition of “Can’t help it” from his Grammy winning "Off the Wall" album.  She was also complimented with two very experienced and talented musicians on the keyboards and drums. The show flowed so smooth that when the set ended the crowd screamed for more. Overall Esperanza was masterful, playful technical, even lovable but most of all highly entertaining. If you get the chance pick up her self titled album "Esperanza" you won’t be disappointed.

Photo courtesy of Johann Sauty