Milton + esperanza – a new album by Brazilian legend Milton Nascimento and decorated musician/composer esperanza spalding – will be released August 9 on Concord Records. Recorded in Brazil over the course of 2023, Milton + esperanza is a dream-come-true collaboration and musical representation of a friendship that was first kindled nearly 15 years ago. The album features 16 tracks that celebrate and reimagine five of Nascimento’s beloved classics, newly written originals by spalding, and fascinating interpretations of The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life” and Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” among other works that lovingly explore the music of Brazil and far beyond. Special guest appearances include Paul Simon, Dianne Reeves, Lianne La Havas, Maria Gadú, Tim Bernardes, Carolina Shorter, Shabaka Hutchings, Guinga and more. Milton + esperanza sparkles with duets between these two iconic voices, exquisite musicianship and what spalding identifies as a central theme of the album: the importance of younger generations creating with, learning from, and building new worlds with elders.
Listen to “Outubro” Here:
Watch Album Trailer Here:
spalding has also just announced her first major tour since 2019 with dates scheduled throughout 2024, as well as a 12-night residency at the Blue Note in New York City in February and March of 2025. Nascimento and spalding don’t currently plan on doing a tour to support the record; these performances feature esperanza with her band. Tickets are on sale now, see below for the full itinerary
2024 U.S. esperanza spalding Tour Dates
5/26 – Columbus, OH – Ohio Black Expo
6/1 – Ridgefield, CT – The Ridgefield Playhouse
6/2 – Princeton, NJ – McCarter Theatre Center
6/3 – Camden, NJ – Wiggins Waterfront Park
8/1 – Los Angeles, CA – Luckman Theatre
8/2 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
8/3 – Portland, OR – Vanport Jazz Festival
8/4 – Seattle, WA – Benaroya Hall
8/9 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theater
8/10 – Rio Rancho, NM – Rio Rancho Events Center
9/13 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
9/14 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre
9/15 – St. Louis, MO – Music at the Intersection (Festival)
9/16 – Skokie, IL – North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
9/17 – Milwaukee, WI – Marcus Performing Arts Center
11/13 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
11/14 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre
11/15 – Stillwater, OK – The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts
11/16 – Salina, KS – The Stiefel Theatre