It was hard to believe that Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Esperanza Spalding didn’t prepare the remarks she made Monday, as she donated her 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony dress to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. “I didn’t really expect to speak, so I hope I can improvise something of value,” the 26-year-old said, before wowing the crowd by quoting Duke Ellington and Mary Lou Williams and proving herself a colorful storyteller.
“When I found out last minute that the president would like me to come and perform I was in a place where I couldn’t get a gown, I didn’t have anything to wear,” she began. “Being the Oregonians that we are, [we are] very hands on, crunchy, in the house,” Spalding said. Her mother procured the long red gown and altered it the night before Spalding headed to Norway.
“So the night of the performance I’m getting the dress out to put it on and all the sudden I notice all these oily fingerprints all over the dress because my mom only uses natural moisurizers,” Spalding said. “She contributed too,” she joked. (The smudges, for the record, were cleaned off before the performance).
The songstress also discussed her chance meeting with President Obama after the Oslo ceremony. “I thought I was leaving and security said, ‘don’t move’…and the next thing I know the president, the first lady, the prime minister of Norway and his wife all entered the room,” she recalled. “I didn’t want to be that person that tried to get close to the president so I stood back to the wall, like this, and tried not to be seen.”
We’re guessing it was Spalding’s trademark ‘do that gave her away.
“The president just said they were very grateful and happy to see me and I felt a tremendous warmth,” she said. “And then I was released by security.”
