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  • I can't forgive myself for not discovering this gorgeous talent until now...

  • Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful performance.

  • best of he best

  • Top 5 performances I have ever seen

  • This is such a gorgeus cover. I'm sure that Nina Simone would be proud of it

  • 11 people are missing something

  • This is the only song I find myself lost for words. It so LARGER than ;LIFE, it's difficult to put into context. I hope she continues with sound ....THIS IS BIG!

  • 3:25....

    ouch..

    

  • There are Entertainers and Musicians that exist among today's music, Esperanza Spalding is both! She's a pure beauty.

  • A master at work making love to my ears unleashing passions of a utopia that with be mirror to the ends of time . ....

  • rihana and lady gaga all that crap should watch this

  • She's amazing on many different levels. It may sound strange but I like that she keeps her teeth as they are and not try to have cosmetic surgery or veneers or anything. I don't have nice teeth either so it's kinda encouraging that she is still this amazing and beautiful just as she is.

  • this should be have 10000000000 wiews

  • Beau !!! Merci

  • I'd be happy if I had just her looks, just her voice or just her musicality. She's got it all

  • I fell in love at 3:53

  • I have set this on repeat..Esperanza epitomizes the pure and undiluted power of her talent. She has not compromised the beautiful genre in which she represents. The delivery is incredible and it keeps me in a constant state of craving more. Oh how the jazz world has been strengthend with your presence...I have had a watchful eye for a few years now and still I am continuously awestruck!

  • OMFG!!!!! What an incredible and powerful performance!!!! This is the material that real music is made off. What a voice!!!!! Cant get over it!

  • @erickapolinar If you like the song, you might be interested to know it was first recorded in 1957 by Johnny Mathis for the film "Wild is the Wind" starring Anna Magnani, Anthony Quin and Tony Franciosa. It has been covered many times, including by David Bowie on his Station to Station album, and by Nina Simone. Esperanza does have a beautiful voice, and I have had the privilege of seeing her perform at the Hollywood Bowl, but I honestly don't consider this to be one of her best.

  • Oh... this is soooo excellent!

  • Oh...My...GOD! This is the first time I've ever heard Esperanza....I...love it. She is so talented and her voice....yes...pure magic....

  • Pure magic...

  • Does anyone know the titles of the last two songs she sang an Austin city limits last week? Which album are they on? This woman is amazing!

  • one of the most beautiful voices of this day and age... it's a shame that so many great artists are relatively unknown..

  • @yamamonkey I agree I just don't understand why people would rather listen to the mainstream music of today for example kesha, lady gaga...etc than this real work of art.

  • @s3oodDJ

    Great music is like wine... it needs to age before it reaches its full effect.

  • This better be the next Bond Movie theme I swear........

  • Wow!

  • Love her playing and very interesting arrangement. Can't say this is my favorite version of this song. I actually prefer the Amel Larrieux version of this song. Still love E S though.

  • This is certainly my favorite cover of Wild Is The Wind. Its like she inserted a piece of her soul into this song and tied it with a bow and gave it to her listening audience as a gift. She is truly talented its sad that i am so enthralled with her artistry but i adore her geez she is amazing

  • Everyone has some long complicated reason why they like jazz. I love jazz 'cause it makes me feel good and it's easy on the ears. Esperanza's voice is like a soft summer breeze.

  • She sorta looks & sounds like Nancy Wilson. She should tackle "Guess Who I Saw Today."

  • lol some of dat shit is jus not in da right key lol real talk

  • Lovely- in a way-she reminds me of "Nancy".

  • the word A R T I S T is wrapped all around her...dang

  • I like Bowie's version more. Fantastic bass playing.

  • Damn. She would smash any opening of amy bond movie if she made something for it.

  • Please marry me Esperanza. 

  • German bow FTW...

  • @rory09 Funny thing is, she started on violin. You would think she would have stuck to French bow.

  • I hope she never gets rid of that hair.

  • @willwelsh816 More black and mixed raced women should keep their hair natural and afro textured like Esperanza... many feel it isn't acceptable and try to make their hair look like white peoples.

    sad

  • Mad Musical skills, she has!!! She it a Shining Star! She has her own style!!

  • No really. I mean it now. Can we please get married? Please?

  • Comment removed

  • @Zombbg4 I understand that sentiments exactly I have a few artist like that as well.

  • @Zombbg4 why? aren't you happy that more people are enjoying her and being opened up to a whole new world of music through her? it's not like her newfound fame is corrupting her like it does with other artists.

  • @Cuddlebunzzzz More fans means more idiots among them. But it's hard to explain, it's like before it was more personal. She was an artist who you'd only find if you're looking in the right place and that was a reward. She's a jazz musician when it comes down to it, however it's the more "pop"ish songs that the majority like, and as a jazz snob that grinds my gears. Like I said, stupid hipster reasons.

  • @Zombbg4 i know what you mean about the more personal thing, it's like if you feel like you're the only one who listens to them, then it feels like they make the music just for you. but at the same time, if you can find others who can appreciate something this beautiful, then it feels like you have a personal connection to them as well.

    btw i didn't know she had any "pop" songs, but i only have her 1st 2 albums. i never hear about her unless i seek out info on her, no one around me likes her

  • @Zombbg4 Straight-ahead jazz music will always be a hispter thing. People now know her like they know Miles Davis -- but few will really actively engage.

  • @Zombbg4 Maybe for you but she probably appreciates it.

  • @Zombbg4 That wouldn't be fair to her career if no one knew about her great talent. Dont be selfish.

  • @Zombbg4 shut up. i can sense the ego in your comment, and it is a very naive reason to enjoy some music and not others- because nobody else has heard of it. often mistaken for "taste".

  • @sarmiento2008 The amount in which I enjoy music doesn't depend on that artists popularity. I won't try to explain, but I'll really be fucked when her new album comes out. Yeah, for those who haven't heard yet she has a new album out in March that is so hip and dope that she will probably win another grammy. Can't wait...Radio Music Society is the name and samples can be heard on soundcloud.

  • @Zombbg4 why?

  • @Zombbg4 how does the amount of people who know about her affect you in any way?

  • Comment removed

  • @Zombbg4

    esperanza is not you lake. you do not own nature or music made by other people, stop being selfish and let her talent enlighten the state of music.

  • @Zombbg4 why? now everyone gets to hear her joy.

  • @Zombbg4 I get what you're saying..like its something so good you wanna keep it all to yourself.. lol..i dont think some the commenters understood what you meant by that

  • Bowing + Pizzicotto + Bowing -> An amazing performance.

    Captivating throughout, from the softness of the beginning to the strong climax of in the middle and to the artistic ending. Here is a woman that could make you fall in love if she wanted...

  • I'm in love

  • ..wow.wow..sweeet, sweet music..

    

  • mindblowing

  • for a few moments seems the strings sounds like  a trumpet... or is just me ??

  • I think Nina Simone would be Proud

  • This song makes love to ur soul!

  • This is AMAZING!!!! :D

  • Am I the only one who wants this woman to be my wife?!?!?!

  • UNFREAKINBELIEVABLE EXTRAORDINARY!!!!

  • The most beautiful thing I've ever heard/seen.

  • This song is pure beauty, amazing. I put my ipod on repeat and listen to this song all day sometimes. It's people like her that inspire me.. If there was music like this on the radio, I wouldn't have a need for headphones on every trip.

  • @eanajna1 Me too! omg, I have found a friend. This song (especially this version) is beYOND beautiful. Sometimes I just make it play ALL night. Her pianist is also getting it IN! Sigh. Loveliness.

  • @skugl23 Her Pianist is from Argentina (like me ^^), form a littel town called Venado Tuerto (yep, is very funny if u traslate it XD). Is name is Leo Genovese. Is Amazing pianist and person, he have an amazing energy and he is very funny and gentil. one of my fav pianist from my country (others to listen: Ernesto Jodos, Paula Shocron, Francisco LoVuolo) enjoy. Leo playing modern jazz is just stuning!!!!! sr my bad english : P

  • She's outrageously talented and original, plus very intelligent like the greatest minds in music history. The only difference between her and all the other music greats is, I'd love to kiss her all over and bury my face in that hair.

  • I'm 16, but I was never reallly never a hip hop person. I Love jazz music because of the history behind it and basically a classy feel behind it. Keep moving forward Esperanza! Show the people what real music is.

  • @MrCrimsoneyedprince Why do people have to denounce one type of music in order to uphold another kind?

  • @JonJury I simply said that I like Jazz better than hip hop, I didn't denounce anything. It's simply just an opinion.

  • @MrCrimsoneyedprince I know what you mean! I got into jazz since I was 12, and I couldn't really relate to my friends in terms of music. It gets better after high school, though-when you meet more and more people who are in the same sort of realm as you do. :)

  • @MrCrimsoneyedprince i love jazz for the exact opposite reason you do....not because of history and def not because of a classy feeling...in fact, I find the music to be digustingly good, its so beyond any other genre not because of its classiness, but because of how immensely complex jazz is, its a form of communication between musicians who are beyond just intrumentalists, their fucking artists who play the most advanced form of music in the world and get paid shit...thats fucking bad ass

  • @paisteguy799 So what your saying is that It's more than just a musical genre, its many different things. Jazz is very recogizable, but it even comes in subgenres like bossa nova, Beebop, acid, jazz funk, latin, ect. some people surprizingly can't get jazz, or its complexity because they don't take the time to understand. its a sophisticated form of sound, not like all this computer generated music that people make today, that's far below the standards of "real music"

  • @MrCrimsoneyedprince yea i mean not all jazz is really "jazz" in my perspective, like smooth jazz, acid jazz, doesnt really get to me because its all so formulated, and has no real emotion, take a look at brad mehldau or gonzalo rubalcaba, or allan holdsworth for guys that are beyond just playing a head, and taking a solo...a tune for these gods among men consist of constant communication between each musician, where everything, every note means something, and there is emtion and grit to it..

  • @MrCrimsoneyedprince the chart music that they call Hip Hop now...isnt real hip hop its just rap pop nonsense that they try to brainwash kids into buying.

    There are bands such as The Roots who are friends with Esperanza, Mos Def, The Pharcyde, Ty (Brit Rapper), J Dilla a famous Hip Hop producer who all make master pieces and many more underground artists who dont get airplay.

  • @MrCrimsoneyedprince

    Hip hop has a history! If you look at the old school artists like NWA and The Roots you'll see that hip hop actually tells a very interesting story and can be very thought provoking. Not saying you have to like it, just poiting out that though some genres may seem like nonsense these days the story behind them is much more different and they are still real music.

  • @tigereyes5 Trust me, I'm no stranger to the history behind hiphop, but today artist make Hiphop look bad, or at least some of them

  • oh god I am going to see her live tomorrow!!!!!!! I don't know if I can handle it

  • @kayleighhoulker Did you almost cry when they played this live?! I got the Vinyl signed by her and willing to sell

  • @1LHPrincess I almost cried when she came on stage...AND HOW MUCH FOR IT!?!

  • @kayleighhoulker I will gladly GIVE IT AWAY at 65 bucks including shipping. Plus there's a great story behind it.Tons of people were waiting for her and never saw her. However only I (and one girl who stalked me) accidently and literally ran into her. Sweetest. Person. Ever! We briefly chatted, hugged, took photos, and before we parted I gave her a Dusty Springfield album. PLUS THE ALBUM IS GREAT!

  • they aren't' deaf. they just sippin on that hater-aid.

  • She's the Bomb,,;)))

  • Damn I love this woman.

  • amazing.

  • I'm a bass - play me.

  • 5 people are are definitively deaf ...

  • a welcome intrusion to / strikeback to the crack culture music we never wanted in the first place.

  • 5 people are tone deaf

  • It just does not get any less EPIC each time I listen! This is just so Perfect!!!

  • @skugl23 Agreed. Esperanza is absolutely amazing. She will always be remembered once she passes on. If not by everyone only by the ones who actually knew what REAL music was and who appreciated it.

  • 4 people are unsophisticated

  • @jadewoman181

    maybe just not there yet. we need to help them along the journey. exquisite arco esperanza! you're something else!!

  • Mesmerizing old soul! Would love to perform with her - two sistas on strings!!!

  • the show last monday in Londons Barbican Hall was simply MAGIC !!! when she was singing that one through the perfect silence ..was like WHoou !! NO WORDS !!!

  • I smile.)

  • I am OBSESSED with this song. Esperanza is a musical genius. I am very pleased to know that creativity and REAL artists are winning awards now. I can't wait for her new album to come out!!

  • Esperanza you are great, love you and your music,it´s magical.

  • watching over and over again, mesmerizing!!

    loved nina simone's version but this is something whooooa!

  • is that the largest chello anyways it sounds better than any stringed insturment ive heard its posssesed .i loved it the performance that is

  • @donottawaguitar That's not a cello, that's a contrabass (also known as a double bass).

  • @donottawaguitar I can't remember the name of the maker,but Esperanza's bass is a newer design .The reason you thought it was a cello is because of it's bottom side-right? Yeah-they cut out the bottom so the bass can be transported more easily-but this sort of cut allows the instrument to maintain it's tone...hope you have a great day!

  • Just so beautiful! Had to cry. :D

  • fantastico!

  • she deserved that grammy. and those 3 people disliking this is beliebers

  • Indescritivel ..

  • Barbra would be proud

  • Woooow, magical !!!!

    thanksss zaxx2, Bravo :)))

  • wow. this really shows off that not only has she an amazing voice, but she is an incredibly talented bass player.

    She plays with a german bow :D i love her

  • @spelled341  lol no doubt!!!!

  • increible! hermoso! powerful! she's amazing!!!!!!!! :D :D :D and what a beautiful song! touching lyrics.

  • 2:42 - 2:53 ...i had an orgasm!

  • 793 to 3? i'll take it as a victory for music

  • BIG BRAVO !!!!!!!!

  • Simply ....Beautiful

  • This performance is the BUSINESS. Dammit. Like, I cant even find the words...

  • Nice.

  • it's a melodica if anyone wants to know

  • WHY ISNT THERE A 'love' BUTTON??

  • .....

  • She's the Björk of Jazz!!!

  • I have decided - the bass line that comes in at 5:17 is MADDD! So bad asssssss. Love this performance to pieces!

  • no way not to love her :)

  • 3 People who dislike this, Like Justin Beiber.

  • Mind blowing-ly beautiful

  • THRILLING!!!!! She is truly exquisite!

  • Thanks, Princess! I'm only 50, so Mathis was before my time :)

  • GREAT cover of Bowie.

  • @kylevcole Great cover of Nina Simone's version. This was written for Johnny Mathis long before Bowie existed.

  • I cant get over this performance. #addicted

  • Is that a bass fiddle? What's the difference between a bass and a bass fiddle or whatever the instrument is that she's playing here? are they the same instrument except for the bow or are they different instruments?

  • @Rick130WCS it's called a double bass or stand-up bass

  • Its amazes me how she is able to play so many instruments so elegantly, sing, and write music all at the same time. She is truly gifted.

  • justin beiber doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath with this brilliantly talented woman.

  • Hopefully the three people who hit dislike, did so by accident.

  • TANGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Only 25 years old? She sings like she's lived a full life, sweetness, fury and wisdom

  • Wow this is beautiful! <3

  • a true muscian won!

  • what instrument is the guy playing at 3:15 ?

  • @Cuddlebunzzzz it's a Melodica

  • amazing, favorite new artist = her and janelle monae

  • you can literally see and hear her focus and concentration during the performance. she is truly in her element!

  • Superb!

  • OMG>>>>>>>>>>>> she is awesome

  • She had a whole lot of somebodies ears to win a Grammy! She is splendid! ♥

  • Great Nina Simone cover!

  • @spiderbass65 Actually Johnny Mathis did it first...but we're all good here. Isn't this a great version?! I think this trumps all the rest! I heard it live and it brought me to tears.

  • Beautiful, never heard of her before, but now I'm a fan!

  • Love it!

  • i love so much♥

  • y love so much

  • 3 people are deaf

  • @spelled341 Or Just plain stupid! I think they hit dislike on accident, there's no way any human being could deliberately press dislike on this!

  • @spelled341 their probably metalheads that stumble upon this and dont have the appreciation for it. and that shows how sad they are cuz i know plenty of metalheads who stand in ah when they she them play.

  • @spelled341

    4 People now. This is music to my ears. SRy they can't hear.

  • @spelled341 youre wrong 5 people are deaf

  • @spelled341 make that five people.

  • Since record sales don't exist anymore, the Judges finally had to do their jobs....GOOD JOB!!!

  • so magical, i forgot to breath while watching this video....