Second Cup Cafe: Esperanza Spalding

Vocalist, bassist and composer Esperanza Spalding may be holding a bass or cello that's twice her size when she performs, but onlookers shouldn't be fooled: her voice is just as grand.

The 23-year-old jazz musician bears a name that means "hope" in Spanish, and she is bringing just that to the contemporary jazz instrumental genre.

Spalding visited The Early Show's Second Cup Café on Saturday to perform songs from her funky and melodic jazz album, "Esperanza."

While singing and playing the bass interchangeably, she adds a kind of interpretive dance to the mix, thus making her performances memorable and fresh, while introducing jazz to younger audiences.

Born and raised in Portland, Ore., in a single-parent household, Spalding was inspired by her mother, who wore many hats as a baker, carpenter, food service and foster care provider, and a labor organizer for Caesar Chavez.

With her mother's insight and positive outlook, Spalding was able to overcome any adversities that came her way, which included schooling.

Ill as a child, Spalding had to be home schooled, therefore she found it challenging to re-immerse herself into the public school atmosphere.

Although public school wasn't the answer, Spalding realized that her true calling in life was music.

She taught herself the violin and joined The Chamber Music Society of Oregon, made up of musicians of all ages, with whom she played for 10 years. Her skills garnered her the title of concertmaster at age 15.

She then obtained her GED and continued her education by enrolling in Portland State University's music program at age 16. Ultimately, this led to her enrollment in the Berklee School of Music, which opened many doors for her.

At age 20, she was the youngest person to join the faculty at the Berklee School as an instructor. In 2005, she received the Boston Jazz Society scholarship for outstanding musicianship.

"I want to make great music, but I also want to use that talent to lift people up, and maybe show them some degree of hope where there might not be any in their lives," Spalding said on her official MySpace page. "My name means 'hope' in Spanish, and it's a name I want to live up to."
By Melissa Castellanos