Esperanza Spalding (w/ Michelin & Barshay) - "Duende"

​It has been often stated that the word “Duende” is one of the most difficult words within the entire Spanish language to translate into in others. Poet Federico Garcia Lorca said of it : “The duende, then, is a power, not a work. It is a struggle, not a thought. I have heard an old maestro of the guitar say, ‘The duende is not in the throat; the duende climbs up inside you, from the soles of the feet.’ Meaning this, it is not a question of ability, but of true, living style, of blood, of the most ancient culture, of spontaneous creation…everything that has black sounds in it, has duende.” Moreover, that the word represents an emotion or response to a work of art and that can never easily be conveyed within syllables and vowels; like that of music. Which brings one to the work entitled “Duende” by the Nando Michelin Trio featuring Nando Michelin on keys, Richie Barsha on drums, and the effervescent Esperanza Spalding on bass and vocals. It is an ambitious album by an eclectic jazz group, performing live, with musical stylings that use various cultural inferences and influences; ranging from Brazilian to African. Not the band leader here, Esperanza’s presence is felt nonetheless with her solid bass play and almost haunting voice. The song “Duende” exemplifies this succinctly. She also provides to two tracks to the record written by her : “I Adore You” and “Mela” which are showcased on her self-titled album released in the same year of 2006. I am reminded of another word, “Sankofa” which translates roughly to go back as to move forward; when listening to this album going back to the bassist’s beginnings and thinking forward to her recent work, one has a greater appreciation for her musical evolution. 

- J After Dark
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Michelin

Spalding

Barshay