Esperanza Spalding – Wins Grammy For Best New Artist

Portland, OR Bassist Esperanza Spalding won the Grammy for Best New Artist at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards held  Feb. 13th, 2011 at the Staples Center in L.A., beating out Hip Hop hopefuls Drake and tween sensation Justin Beiber.

When asked about thanking her teachers during her acceptance speech she said “I was speaking to many, many, many teachers. I started playing music when I was 5, so I don’t think you’ll want me to go through all the teachers, but in particular … Greg McKelvey, Hazel DiLorenzo, Dorothy McCormick, Ken Baldwin, all my teachers at Portland State University and Berklee.”

Spalding’s most recent album, ‘Chamber Music Society,’ was recorded in 2010 and features Spalding’s vocals and upright bass playing.