Esperanza Spalding is our Artist in Residence for 2026

Esperanza Spalding is one of the most influential and uncompromising voices in the jazz world today – an artist without boundaries, who unites music, poetry, dance, healing practices, and social engagement in her work.

She is not only a virtuosic bassist and vocalist, but an artist who uses music as a tool for dialogue, care, and transformation – socially, politically, and artistically.

Her work is characterized by inclusion, love, and solidarity – values that stand in sharp contrast to many of the currents seen in today’s United States. In a time marked by harsh rhetoric and polarization, Spalding represents an open and healing force in contemporary art. She is an artist who builds bridges – between genres, between people, and between cultures.

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Why We Invited Her

The choice of Esperanza Spalding as Artist in Residence is rooted in our desire to reflect the most exciting and relevant developments in international jazz today. With her profound musical expression and strong commitment to social justice, she embodies much of what Moldejazz aims to stand for: innovation, diversity, and art with meaning.

Spalding is a five-time GRAMMY winner and has collaborated with legends such as Wayne Shorter, Milton Nascimento, and Herbie Hancock, as well as contemporary voices like Robert Glasper, Janelle Monáe, and Q-Tip. She has released eight albums, is currently developing work in opera and dance, and leads groundbreaking projects like Songwrights Apothecary Lab and Off Brand gOdds, where music and therapy meet in practice.

Quoted: Magnus Lunay, Artistic Director

“I am incredibly excited about our Artist in Residence for 2026. Esperanza Spalding is an artist I’ve followed since her debut in 2008, and time and again she has blown me away – both live and on record. She is a completely otherworldly performer who IS music – fully and completely. It’s been a dream to bring Esperanza Spalding to Moldejazz, and now we get to live that dream.”

The Artist in Residence Program

During Moldejazz 2026, Esperanza Spalding will present at least four concerts in different formats and at various venues. The program will reflect the full breadth of her artistry – from solo performances and intimate ensemble concerts to more interdisciplinary and experimental works that incorporate dance, poetry, and healing arts.

Audiences can expect experiences unlike anything they’ve seen before – and ones they will never forget.