cognitive dissident

I mentioned the phenomenal bassist/singer Esperanza Spalding before, and here are a few clips of her high-profile performances over the past year: playing "Overjoyed" in honor of Stevie Wonder at the White House,

performing during the White House's "Evening of Poetry, Music & the Spoken Word,"

and a gig, at Obama's request, in honor of his Nobel Peace Prize:

Her website has a list of upcoming tour dates--if you get a chance to see her perform live, I suggest that you take it--talent like hers is rare!