ESPERANZA SPALDING to perform Thursday, February 19, 2026, in the Longworth-Anderson Series at historic Memorial Hall!
Born in 1984 in Portland, Oregon, esperanza spalding is an eaabibacliitoti* artist, trained and initiated in the North American (masculine) jazz lineage and tradition. Her work interweaves various combinations of instrumental music, bass playing, improvisation, singing, composition, poetry, dance, therapeutic research, storytelling, teaching, regenerative agriculture, urban land & artist-sanctuary custodianship, and growing in love as a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, auntie, great-auntie, and friend, while collaboratively decolonizing within and through her hometown community. She founded and co-directs Prismid Sanctuary, a nonprofit that creates and stewards free artist residency, performance, and workshop space in Portland.
Milton + esperanza is spalding’s first new album release since 2021's songwrights apothecary lab—which, along with 2019’s 12 Little Spells, both won Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album. A 5-time Grammy winner and 11-time nominee, spalding has previously released 8 full-length albums and, in addition to working with her heroes including Nascimento and Shorter, has collaborated with Q-Tip, Janelle Monáe, Robert Glasper, Terri Lyne Carrington, and many others.
With her dance project “Off Brand gOdds” and therapeutic music incubator “Songwrights Apothecary Lab,” she co-leads performance, teaching, workshop, and therapeutic-arts research residencies in collaboration with colleges and arts venues across the Americas and throughout the world. She is a 2024 recipient of the Doris Duke Foundation Artist Award and a 2016 Ford Foundation “Art of Change” Fellow.
*European-African ancestored being influenced by American cultures living in Indigenous Territories of Turtle Island
Emphasizing simplicity and intimacy of her voice and bass, in this special configuration of two musicians and two dancers, esperanza will perform songs from her previous albums, current releases, plus a special preview of her forthcoming project.
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Be part of another Longworth-Anderson Series evening of great music, food, and drink! Complimentary pre-concert reception features live local music, light bites from Ollie's Trolley and N.Y.P.D. Pizza, and craft beer tastings from HighGrain Brewing Co.
Reception runs from 6:30-8 p.m. Concert begins at 8 p.m.
Tickets ($59.00 to $99.00) on sale Friday, November 7, 2025, at 10 a.m. at www.memorialhallotr.com. Or call the Memorial Hall box office at 513-977-8838.
Masks are optional for this concert. Confirmation of vaccination status is not required.
BIG THANKS TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR:
Harold C. Schott Foundation
LAS SEASON SPONSORS:
The H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee
Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation
LAS PRE-CONCERT RECEPTION SEASON SPONSOR:
Bailey Lamson Family Foundation
www.esperanzaspalding.com
www.longworth-andersonseries.com
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