Bassist, vocalist, and composer Esperanza Spalding plays Saturday, December 11, at 8:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

Nominated for a Grammy award in the "Best New Artist" category, Spalding’s career has in fact spanned 10 years. A decade of steadily rising success is a rarity in the entertainment industry. The fact that the musician has earned worldwide fame at the age of 25 is nothing short of miraculous.

Raised in Portland, Oregon, Spalding was initially inspired by classical cellist Yo Yo Ma. Teaching herself the violin at age five, Spalding's talent eventually earned her a spot at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

Releasing her debut CD in 2008, Spalding quickly earned critical raves for her breathy vocal style and soulful improvisations on the upright bass.

Within a year of releasing her recorded debut, the bassist was performing on the Late Show with David  Letterman, Austin City Limits, and National Public Radio and playing high-profile gigs at the White House.

Her 2010 release, Chamber Music Society, blends Spalding's classical training with jazz, folk, and Latin rhythms. The recording has garnered critical praise for its genre-crossing inventiveness.

Spalding's Chamber Music Society Tour comes to Buffalo before moving on to Asia and Europe in spring 2011. In January, the bassist will perform a weeklong residency with Joe Lovano at the famed Village Vanguard in New York City.

For ticket prices and availabilty, contact the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall at (716) 878-3005.