Jazz Musician Esperanza Spalding Wins Best New Artist Grammy

It's easy to become cynical in today's society, but my hope for the future of music was given a bit of encouragement while watching this year's Grammy awards. Mixed in amongst the musical talent and wannabes was an upset that stunned. "The Grammy for Best New Artist goes to ... Esperanza Spalding!" Who? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJo7cT8WH_8 Esperanza Spalding is a young, talented bassist, singer and jazz composer. She has performed at the White House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFsVXdmwZoo at a Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXtAFOr9ahs and on Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Latnl1iMnnA But she managed to stayed under the radar for most of us. Fortunately, the Academy was paying attention. Whether you are a jazz fan or not, at least this proves that someone with real talent can be noticed over the sounds generated by pitch correctors, overdubs and pyrotechnics.