By Antonio Lozoya
As part of the winter concerts season, the XXIX International Jazz & Blues Festival will present “Joni Mitchell and Carole King´s Music” by Hela San and her quintet this Saturday, February 4, at Casa Europa, San Francisco 23, Centro.
Mitchell is a Canadian singer-songwriter, drawing from folk, pop, rock, and jazz. Her songs often reflect social and environmental ideals as well as her feelings about romance, confusion, disillusionment, and joy. She has received many accolades including nine Grammy Awards. Rolling Stone called her «one of the greatest songwriters ever.» In 1965, she moved to the United States and began touring. Some of her original songs («Urge for Going,» «Chelsea Morning,» «Both Sides Now,» and «The Circle Game») were covered by other folk singers, allowing her to record her debut album in 1968. Mitchell, with popular songs like «Big Yellow Taxi» and «Woodstock,» helped define an era and a generation. Her 1971 album “Blue” is often cited as one of the best albums of all time. It was rated the 30th best album ever made in Rolling Stone’s list of the «500 Greatest Albums of All Time.»
Since writing her first number one hit “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” at the tender age of 17, Carole King has arguably become the most celebrated and iconic singer/songwriter of all time.
King’s 1971 solo album, “Tapestry,” took her to the pinnacle. While she was recording “Tapestry,” James Taylor recorded King’s “You’ve Got A Friend” taking the song all the way to number one. In a first for a female writer/artist, “Tapestry” spawned four Grammy Awards: Record, Song and Album of the Year as well as Best Pop Vocal Performance. “Tapestry” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. In 1967 Goffin and King’s “Natural Woman” was immortalized by Aretha Franklin.
The musicians: Hela San, Mexican singer, songwriter, and producer. After traveling through jazz, folk, and rock and collaborating with renowned musicians from the country’s music scene, San has consolidated her own eminently contemporary sound that moves away from conventional labels to get closer to a «signature pop» in that the main element is the voice and the power of the songs. Her music has been presented on stages in Canada, the United States, Spain, and several cities in Mexico and was part of the soundtrack of film projects. Rick Shlosser on drums (James Taylor, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart), Roger Vargas on guitar, Alex Villagomez on piano, and Antonio Lozoya on bass.
The Festival is a non-profit organization preserving the jazz and blues culture in Mexico. If you want to support this organization with a donation and apply for a U.S. tax benefit please visit our site (www.sanmigueljazz.com.mx) to get in touch and we will gladly give you details about your contribution.
See you there!
International Jazz & Blues Festival
Hela San Quintet
“Joni Mitchell and Carole King’s Music”
Sat., Feb. 4, 5pm
Casa Europa
San Francisco 23, Centro
550 pesos; 605 pesos with PayPal
Tickets: Santa Ana Public Library Store, Insurgente 25, Centro
