Who Is Esperanza Spalding?

Esperanza Spalding with her first Grammy.

In the days leading up to Sunday night's Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, there were plenty of categories in which no clear favorite had emerged. One of the few exceptions was Best New Artist, with Justin Bieber the heavy favorite.

As presenters Jewel and John Legend took the stage, dozens of fingers hovered computers in the press box, poised to publish stories of Bieber's latest conquest and first Grammy Award. But when the winner ...