Giant Step for Esperanza Spalding and the Grammy Awards
In the past, I’ve been an out-spoken critic of the Grammy Awards and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in their giving far too much recognition and attention to inferior talent as opposed to the truly gifted. Profanity laden music debauches, corrupts and subverts the minds of young people, therefore, lending to the devaluation of values in a segment of our society and rendering it vulnerable to self-destructive mechanisms. However, in this moment in time, for their acknowledgement of Ms. Spalding’s talents/creativity, contributions to the music world, and their taking the highroad in applauding her gifts over popularity, the Grammys and NARAS deserves a meritorious award of their own.
Esperanza Spalding has performed for President Barack Obama, with jazz legends like Herbie Hancock, and before thousands of ardent Prince fans. However, the acclaimed jazz singer and bassist was thrust onto the biggest stage of her life Sunday, February 13, 2011, as she captured the Best New Artist trophy at the Grammy Awards, making history in the process. The brilliant and richly-deserving 26-year-old Portland, Oregon, native became the first jazz artist to win the award in a stunner that saw her defeat Mumford & Sons; Florence and the Machine; rapper Drake; and the heavy favorite, teen pop icon Justin Bieber.
Ms. Spalding’s tremendous talents lend to the elevation of one’s spirit, mind and soul. Listening to her music gives one a deep sense of the integration and unification of the mind, body, and soul, reaching a deeper sense of personal and worldly awareness. Her winning the Grammy Award should encourage others to seek the higher ground in the development and utilization of their God-given talents.
Almost immediately after graduation from college, at age 20, Spalding was hired by Berklee College of Music, becoming one of the youngest professors in the institution’s history. Anything the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve. Whether the thoughts are uplifting or debasing, there will be results of some kind. The promotion of negative, self-destructive thoughts such as profanity, the n-word, and violence, to name a few, pollute the minds of the unsuspecting. However, with this industry-recognized talent and win for Ms. Spalding, hopefully the days of self-destructive and plaguing thoughts of inferiority are drawing to an end, ushering in the dawn of a new era of more noble and uplifting imageries.
If you have yet to witness the brilliance and talents of Esperanza Spalding, the following video provides you with a preview into her flowing art: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNw46j0nNOs&feature=player_embedded#at=13
H. Lewis Smith is the founder and president of UVCC, the United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. (www.theunitedvoices.com); a writer for the New England Informer Online; and author of “Bury that Sucka: A Scandalous Love Affair with the N-Word”. Follow him on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thescoop1
