On 13 November, Joni Mitchell Legacy returns to In The Mood Jazz Club following the enthusiastic audience response to its previous edition. Vocalist Daniela Belcheva, pianist Vasil Spasov, double bassist Mihail Ivanov and drummer Dimitar Semov once again bring their shared admiration for the legendary Joni Mitchell to a personal interpretation of her music.
Created in 2023 to mark Mitchell’s 80th birthday, the project explores fresh interpretative possibilities in songs whose philosophical lyrics, unconventional forms and unmistakable melodic character continue to move generations of listeners. At its heart are Vasil Spasov’s original arrangements, which approach her music through a contemporary jazz lens. The piano trio and voice format allows room for improvisation and a personal artistic vision of Joni Mitchell’s songs.
“There is something particularly powerful about performing a song by a songwriter you admire. Her lyrics are philosophical, her forms unconventional, uniquely her own. She is an extraordinary artist,” says Daniela Belcheva.
This admiration provides a starting point for exploring the work of an artist who expands the boundaries of popular music and creates a territory of her own between folk, pop and jazz. At different stages of her career, Joni Mitchell has worked with musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter, Charles Mingus and Peter Erskine. The freedom with which she follows her musical ideas, together with the candour of her poetic voice, has made her a symbol of artistic independence.
It is this very freedom that inspires Joni Mitchell Legacy. The programme features Big Yellow Taxi, A Case of You, Both Sides Now, Hejira and other beloved songs, with arrangements created especially for the project. An evening in which familiar melodies reveal new nuances, and Joni Mitchell’s words and music come alive in the intimate atmosphere of the club.