View source for Junjo

{{for|the record producer|Henry "Junjo" Lawes}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Junjo
| type       = album
| artist     = [[Esperanza Spalding]]
| cover      = Esperanza Spalding Junjo.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 2006, April 18
| recorded   = 2005, April 6–7
| venue      =
| studio     = PBS Studios ([[Westwood, Massachusetts|Westwood, MA]])
| genre      = [[Jazz]]
| length     = 49:02
| label      = Ayva Musica
| producer   = Esperanza Spalding
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Esperanza (Esperanza Spalding album)|Esperanza]]
| next_year  = 2008
}}
'''''Junjo''''' is the debut [[studio album]] by American [[bassist]] and singer [[Esperanza Spalding]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Prince |first1=Tracy J. |last2=Schaffer |first2=Zadie |title=Notable Women of Portland |date=5 June 2017 |publisher=[[Arcadia Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-4396-6120-8 |page=114 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCYnDwAAQBAJ&dq=Junjo+esperanza+spalding&pg=PA114 |access-date=23 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gioia |first1=Ted |title=The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire |date=2021 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-008717-3 |page=371 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TX0_EAAAQBAJ&dq=Junjo+esperanza+spalding&pg=PA371 |access-date=22 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>[http://ayvamusica.com/nada/esperanza-spalding---junjo/ Esperanza Spalding - ''Junjo''] on Ayva Music website.</ref> It was released on 18 April 2006 by Spanish label, Ayva Music.<ref name=AMG />
==Background==
The piano trio features pianist Aruán Ortiz, Francisco Mela on drums and then 22-year-old Spalding on upright bass, and providing vocals –often wordless– on all but two tracks. Besides compositions by [[Jimmy Rowles]], [[Egberto Gismonti]] and [[Chick Corea]] the trio plays originals.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Beuttler |first1=Bill |title=Make It New: Reshaping Jazz in the 21st Century |date=1 October 2019 |publisher=Lever Press |isbn=978-1-64315-005-5 |page=245 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SjfnDwAAQBAJ&dq=Junjo+esperanza+spalding&pg=PA245 |access-date=22 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The album draws on jazz as well as on a number of Brazilian and other Latin music styles.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rice |first1=Timothy |last2=Wilson |first2=Dave |title=Gateways to Understanding Music |date=21 January 2019 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-351-70883-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=442EDwAAQBAJ&dq=Junjo+esperanza+spalding&pg=PT1011 |access-date=23 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
|rev1=''[[All About Jazz]]''
|rev1score={{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AAJ">{{cite web |last1=Santella |first1=Jim |title=Esperanza Spalding: Junjo |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/junjo-esperanza-spalding-ayva-musica-review-by-jim-santella.php |website=[[All About Jazz]] |accessdate=8 July 2018 |date=2 August 2006}}</ref>
|rev2 = [[Allmusic]]
|rev2score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=AMG>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r840300|pure_url=yes}} ''Junjo'' - Review] on Allmusic.com</ref>
|rev3 = [[Tom Hull (critic)|Tom Hull]]
|rev3score = B+<ref>{{cite web |title=Tom Hull: Grade List: Esperanza Spalding |url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=esperanza+spalding | publisher=[[Tom Hull (critic)|Tom Hull]] |accessdate=28 September 2020}}</ref>}}
Michael G. Nastos from [[AllMusic]] calls ''Junjo'' "an exercise in joy and freedom", noting "the certainty of her concept and clarity of her vision ... an auspicious beginning."<ref name=AMG /> Jim Santella of ''[[All About Jazz]]'' commented, "Esperanza Spalding's debut drives jazz's modern mainstream with a hip-sounding classic piano trio. Her emotional, wordless vocals and conversational bass playing offer a delightful celebration of music as folk art. Spalding's bass playing gets noticed while she interprets traditional jazz favorites as well as fresh new originals."<ref name="AAJ"/> Jamie Katz of ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' wrote, "...it's Spalding singular creations that make ''Junjo'' truly beguiling, signaling a new and important voice in jazz."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jamie |first1=Katz |title=Music: Revolutions |journal=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date=December 2006 |page=176 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_SYEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Junjo+esperanza+spalding&pg=PA176 |access-date=22 November 2021 |publisher=Vibe Media Group |language=en}}</ref>
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| collapsed =
| total_length = 49:02
| title1    = The Peacocks
| writer1   = [[Jimmy Rowles]]
| length1   = 7:56
| title2    = Loro
| writer2   = [[Egberto Gismonti]]
| length2   = 5:06
| title3    = Humpty Dumpty
| writer3   = [[Chick Corea]]
| length3   = 5:51
| title4    = Mompouana
| writer4   = Aruán Ortiz
| length4   = 7:51
| title5    = Perazuán
| writer5   = Spalding, Ortiz
| length5   = 3:38
| title6    = Junjo
| writer6   = Spalding
| length6   = 5:13
| title7    = Cantora de Yala
| writer7   = Gustavo Leguizamón, Manuel J. Castilla
| length7   = 4:55
| title8    = Two Bad
| writer8   = Spalding
| length8   = 6:59
| title9    = Perazela
| writer9   = [[Francisco Mela]], Spalding
| length9   = 1:32
}}
==Personnel==
*Esperanza Spalding – double bass, vocals
*Aruán Ortiz – piano
*Francisco Mela – drums
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Esperanza Spalding}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2006 debut albums]]
[[Category:Esperanza Spalding albums]]