Milton + esperanza is a delightful listen that has foundational roots in Brazilian traditional music, but is decidely modern in its sonic layers and ambient soundscape interstitials. The 16 song album reimagines five Nascimento's classics, spalding originals and some wildly inventive covers of both The Beatles' "A Day in the Life", and Michael Jackson's "Earth Song".
Much of the album was recorded in Rio, and features spalding’s core band of Matthew Stevens (guitar), Justin Tyson and Eric Doob (drums), Leo Genovese (piano), Corey D. King (vocals, synths), and several Brazilian musicians, including Orquestra Ouro Preto, percussionists Kainã Do Jêje and Ronaldinho Silva, and Lula Galvão and Guinga on guitar. If that wasn't enough, it also features guest appearances from Paul Simon, Dianne Reeves, Lianne La Havas, Maria Gadú, Tim Bernardes, Carolina Shorter, and Shabaka Hutchings.
Milton + esperanza was produced by spalding.
It's a perfect soundtrack to watch the clouds roll by on an Autumn afternoon in Central Park, or a coastal drive in some farway land.
