Friday 28th September 2018 The Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank
28th September 2018 will see Salena Jones take to the stage at the historic Purcell Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in a concert which will commemorate her 7 decades as a performer. Recording since the age of ten, her remarkable career has seen her perform before audiences across Europe, the Americas and Asia; setting the residency record at Ronnie Scott’s; releasing 43 albums and working with a who’s who of jazz and blues, from Louis Armstrong to Sarah Vaughan to Antonio Carlos Jobim. For the American vocalist who has called Britain home for the last fifty years, it is fitting that one of the world’s greatest interpreters of song has chosen London to mark this remarkable anniversary, with an 18-piece orchestra conducted by none other than her husband, the renowned composer, Keith Mansfield.
Born Joan Shaw in Virginia, her family direct descendants of the Indian Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse, Joan moved to New York at an early age, her aptitude for singing seeing her release 15 records by the time she was 15 years of age. Rubbing shoulders with legendary musicians of the likes of Miles Davis, Stan Getz and Charlie Parker, she recorded demo guide tracks for artists such as Peggy Lee and Lena Horne, before emerging as a headline act in her own right, with her “Blues Express Orchestra”. Growing racial tensions led to a move to Europe in 1965, the base from which she has worked ever since and saw her change her name to Salena Jones, with fans across the world recognising her as, to quote her Asian fanbase, “The Queen of Jazz and Blues”. Indeed, Salena still holds the record for the longest residency at the world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, a remarkable seven weeks.
Her singing style avoids the histrionics and gymnastics of some of her contemporaries, and sees her calm, mannered phrasing give her chosen repertoire the respect it deserves, whilst still enrapturing audiences with her rich, beguiling tones. Her songbook ranges from rhythm and blues to soul, jazz and modern pop, even to embracing songs by artists like Aerosmith! This concert is a fully-deserved celebration of an artist who has devoted her career to entertaining others and is recommended to everyone who recognises the significance of artists who may have evaded million-selling records but have brought an immeasurable wealth of experience and influence on the world of music.
Dates:
Saturday 14th/Sunday 15th September 2018 – Soho Jazz Club, Dean Street
Friday 28th September 2018 – Purcell Room, Southbank
Sunday 21st October 2018 – Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
Website: www.salenajones.com