Guatemalan singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno has a story she enjoys telling.
When she was a young teen, she visited New York City. Moreno heard an unfamiliar sound and she asked about the music. It was the blues.
Moreno was hooked. And when Moreno left Guatemala for Los Angeles when she was 18 to forge a career, Moreno immersed herself in blues, jazz and American-indie style sounds while keeping her Latina sensibilities at the root.
In her most recent recording, “Ilusión,” the bilingual Moreno encapsulates in her 13 songs the essence of her immigrant experience with assistance from Brooklyn-based producer Gabe Roth (Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and Amy Winehouse).
Moreno, who was named Best New Artist in the 14th annual Latin Grammy Awards of 2013, has been making a name for herself on the wider stage. She has toured with Amy Chapman, Ani Difranco and Tucson’s Calexico. Joey Burns of Calexico is one of her biggest fans.
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“Every now and then we are graced with a singer songwriter who comes along and reminds us of some of the great artists who have shaped the musical landscape. Gaby Moreno is of this same caliber and musical spirit,” said Burns.
Moreno will perform at the Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 & $12.
— Ernesto Portillo Jr.
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