How low can you go?

Esperanza Spalding: ' I want to dig into Welsh poetry'

The jazz bassist and singer on hanging out with Prince, meeting her hero Yo-Yo Ma and getting in touch with her Welsh roots.

The world's leading aspirational ethnic identity just goes from strength to strength.



I played double bass with the South Glamorgan Youth Orchestra when I was a kid. I settled on the instrument as there was one provided at school and rehearsals so I didn't have to cart it about or, indeed, practice.

The downside of this is that I was no good. I remember playing jazz with some horn players at a residential weekend. They finished when I was exactly half way through.