Five-time Grammy winner esperanza spalding will perform in Madison on Sept. 19
Posted: 09/13/24
Five-time Grammy winner and music phenomenon esperanza spalding will perform in Madison, Wis., on Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT’s) Jazz Series.
Spalding, an American bassist, singer, songwriter and composer will bring her talents to Memorial Union’s Shannon Hall and perform songs from all eight albums, including current releases, as well as a preview of her forthcoming project.
Her third album “Chamber Music Society,” released in 2010, became the best-selling contemporary jazz album of the year. The next year, spalding won Best New Artist at the Grammys; fellow nominees included Justin Bieber and Drake. Following her first Grammy, spalding won three additional Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals.
In 2017, spalding spent 77 hours in the studio to produce her album “Exposure,” followed by her next project, “12 Little Spells,” which connected each song with a different part of the body.
Additionally, spalding has performed alongside the Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Herbie Hancock and Patti LaBelle as well as performed at the White House and in Stockholm, Sweden, when former President Barack Obama received a Nobel Peace Prize.
“We’ve been working to schedule esperanza spalding in a Wisconsin Union Theater season for a few years now,” WUT Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “She is one of the coolest jazz cats around. She does not consider herself a prodigy, but by definition, she is one! More than her explosive talent, she believes music improves people’s wellbeing and has embraced research that will show this from a scientific standpoint.”
On Sept. 19, WUT patrons can enjoy pre-show beverages in the Shannon Sunset Lounge across from Shannon Hall, including a signature drink, called The Remedy, inspired by spalding’s “Songwrights Apothecary Labs,” involving music experimentation, creation, and healing.
Patrons can also enjoy a pre-concert meal or snack at one of seven dining options at Memorial Union.
Sept. 19 is the last day to purchase a WUT Jazz Series subscription. WUT’s Classical Series subscriptions are available through Sept. 27 and build-your-own subscriptions and single ticket sales are ongoing. Tickets to all WUT performances are available online, in person at the Memorial Union Box Office, or by phone at (608) 265-2787. Subscriber benefits include the option to keep the same seats each year, discounted pricing, priority access to subscriptions for the next season, and subscriber-only events.
Nonprofit WUT has a more than 80-year history of bringing what’s next now in performing arts to stages in Madison with lineups created through a student-staff collaborative curation effort.
Patrons can visit union.wisc.edu/theater for information about the full 2024-2025 season lineup and to purchase subscriptions or single tickets to WUT events, such as spalding’s performance on Sept. 19.