Milton + Esperanza is a collaborative studio album by jazz singer Milton Nascimento and jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding.[1][2] Concord Records released the album on 8 August 2024.[3][4] The record also released two singles.
| Milton + Esperanza | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 9, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2023 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 67:30 | |||
| Label | Concord | |||
| Producer | Esperanza Spalding | |||
| Esperanza Spalding chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editThe album was recorded in Brazil during 2023 and includes 16 tracks: originals by Spalding as well as jazz and pop standards from Nascimento’s catalogue.[5] Spalding sings in Portuguese on most of the tracks. Nascimento, who is 81 now, is heard on tracks "Cais", "Outobro", "Saci", "Morro Velho", and "Um Vento Passou". The album is dedicated to Wayne Shorter’s memory, who passed away in March 2023 aged 89.[6] The Nascimento and Spalding's first collaboration was on Spalding’s 2010 album Chamber Music Society, with Nascimento singing on track "Apple Blossom". It was the days when they were initially introduced by Herbie Hancock.
The list of guest stars includes such diverse musicians as Paul Simon, Dianne Reeves, Lianne La Havas, Maria Gadu, Guinga, Tim Bernades, and Carolina Shorter, Wayne’s widow.[7] Singer-songwriter Paul Simon studied Portuguese for two weeks so as to sing the duet that Nascimento wrote for him.[8]
Tracks "Outubro" and "Um vento passou" were released as singles.
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| All About Jazz |  [9] |
| The Guardian | [5] |
Matt Collar of AllMusic wrote, "At the center of all this are Nascimento and Spalding, whose smiling interplay helps make Milton + Esperanza feel like both a capstone to a monumental career and continuation of a musical legacy."[7]
Jack Nicas of The New York Times stated, "There is little surprise that, at 81, Nascimento’s voice is not what it once was. It is quieter, unsteadier and at times straining to reach notes it once soared past. Yet it retains an undeniable warmth. It is weathered, broken in. And it provides a comforting presence throughout the album, like a grandparent’s hand in yours."[10]
Ernesto Lechner of the Rolling Stone added, "The result of their collaboration is Milton + Esperanza, an episodic, strikingly impressionistic album that combines reworked Nascimento classics with new Spalding originals, warm audio vignettes, and a couple of intriguing covers."[11]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "the music was there" | Justin Tyson | 0:57 |
| 2. | "Cais" | Nascimento, Ronaldo Bastos | 3:40 |
| 3. | "Late September" | Spalding | 1:26 |
| 4. | "Outubro" | Nascimento | 5:17 |
| 5. | "A Day in the Life" | Lennon–McCartney | 4:36 |
| 6. | "Interlude for Saci" | Corey D. King | 1:41 |
| 7. | "Saci" (featuring Guinga) | Guinga, Paulo César Pinheiro | 3:28 |
| 8. | "Wings for the Thought Bird" (featuring Elena Pinderhughes and Orquestra Ouro Preto) | Spalding | 3:06 |
| 9. | "The Way You Are" | Spalding | 0:48 |
| 10. | "Earth Song" (featuring Dianne Reeves) | Michael Jackson | 6:42 |
| 11. | "Morro Velho" (featuring Orquestra Ouro Preto) | Nascimento | 5:15 |
| 12. | "Saudade Dos Aviões da Panair (Conversando No Bar)" (featuring Lianne La Havas, Maria Gadú, Tim Bernardes, and Lula Galvão) | Nascimento, Fernando Brant | 5:24 |
| 13. | "Um Vento Passou (para Paul Simon)" (featuring Paul Simon) | Nascimento, Márcio Borges | 4:36 |
| 14. | "Get It By Now" | Spalding | 2:24 |
| 15. | "outro planeta" | Tyson | 2:06 |
| 16. | "When You Dream" (featuring Carolina Shorter) | Wayne Shorter, Edgy Lee | 9:26 |
| Total length: | 67:30 | ||
Personnel
edit
|
|
References
edit- ^ Corcoran, Nina (15 May 2024). "Esperanza Spalding and Milton Nascimento Announce Album, Share New Song "Outubro"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding unite on new album". Jazz in Europe. May 24, 2024. Archived from the original on June 30, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ "Milton + esperanza - Concord - Label Group". Concord Records. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Mohamed, Suraya. "Milton Nascimento & esperanza spalding: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert". NPR. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ a b Kalia, Ammar (9 August 2024). "Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding: Milton + Esperanza review – Brazilian giant finds a new groove". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Helfand, Raphael. "Milton Nascimento and esperanza spalding's journey into jazz's open ocean". The Fader. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Collar, Matt. "Milton + Esperanza - Milton Nascimento, Espera... | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Guevara, Milton; Haney, Taylor; Martin, Michel (9 August 2024). "Milton Nascimento and esperanza spalding honor friendship on their new album". NPR. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Jazz, All About (31 July 2024). "Milton Nascimento / Esperanza Spalding: Milton + esperanza album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Nicas, Jake (1 August 2024). "Some Final Notes From the 'Voice of God'". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Lechner, Ernesto (7 August 2024). "Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding Celebrate Brazilian Classics on 'Milton + Esperanza'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 October 2024.