LINER NOTES BY [YOUR NAME HERE]
Instead of traditional liner notes for the new boxed set (November), Joni would like to invite the community to send in a statement of why they enjoy the music. It can be one sentence or a short paragraph and the best will be chosen for the liner notes for the project. It can be a personal experience with the music or why in general you like it. Joni feels it might be more interesting to hear from the people who truly like the music rather than from a critic or PR person. Submit your liner notes here.
Instead of traditional liner notes for the new boxed set (November), Joni would like to invite the community to send in a statement of why they enjoy the music. It can be one sentence or a short paragraph and the best will be chosen for the liner notes for the project. It can be a personal experience with the music or why in general you like it. Joni feels it might be more interesting to hear from the people who truly like the music rather than from a critic or PR person. Submit your liner notes here.
Jul 1: Paved paradise redux heads to San Francisco
Obie Award-winning performance artist John Kelly will bring his acclaimed performance piece Paved Paradise Redux: The Art of Joni Mitchell to San Francisco's Rrazz Room, July 30-August 2. The show, which recently played New York's Abrons Arts Center, will be directed by Kevin Malony.
Kelly, who has performed the work of the Canadian singer-songwriter for many years, will evoke Mitchell's own smoky soprano as he sings songs from the various stages of her career in their original key. He also plays dulcimer and replicates Mitchell's guitar style by way of her signature open tunings.
For tickets, visit RRazzroom. For more information, visit John's website.
Kelly, who has performed the work of the Canadian singer-songwriter for many years, will evoke Mitchell's own smoky soprano as he sings songs from the various stages of her career in their original key. He also plays dulcimer and replicates Mitchell's guitar style by way of her signature open tunings.
For tickets, visit RRazzroom. For more information, visit John's website.
Jun 25: New boxed set due in November
In November 2009, Rhino Entertainment will be releasing a Joni Mitchell box set. The 4 CD and 1 DVD package will have over 85 songs, from the mid-sixties up to Joni's last album "Shine". Several unreleased songs and alternate versions will be included, plus very rare and previously unissued video performances spanning Joni's incomparable career. Joni will be contributing notes to the package and overseeing the photo edit and design.
Instead of traditional liner notes, Joni would like to invite the community to send in a statement of why they enjoy the music. It can be one sentence or a short paragraph and the best will be chosen for the liner notes for the project. It can be a personal experience with the music or why in general you like it.
An example of which might be...
"Joni, you make race-less, gender-less music."
"Girl, you make me see pictures in my head."
Joni feels it might be more interesting to hear from the people who truly like the music rather than from a critic or PR person. Submit your liner notes here.
Instead of traditional liner notes, Joni would like to invite the community to send in a statement of why they enjoy the music. It can be one sentence or a short paragraph and the best will be chosen for the liner notes for the project. It can be a personal experience with the music or why in general you like it.
An example of which might be...
"Joni, you make race-less, gender-less music."
"Girl, you make me see pictures in my head."
Joni feels it might be more interesting to hear from the people who truly like the music rather than from a critic or PR person. Submit your liner notes here.
Jun 21: Review of Paved Paradise Redux
It's not Joni up on stage, but if you were there you might actually have to think twice about that. JoniMitchell.com reporter Patrick Leader attended the event - events, actually - and has a report. There's still time for you New York area people to get in on the show! Both Paved Paradise Redux and the art exhibition run through June 27th. Check Patrick's review for links and details.
Jun 10: Press Release - Paved Paradise Redux in New York City this month
East-coasters! Be sure and get your tickets to Pave Paradise Redux this month in New York City. Here's the official press release:
Obie Award Winner John Kelly Premieres
PAVED PARADISE REDUX:
The Art of Joni Mitchell
Limited Engagement runs June 18 - 27 at Abrons Arts Center
"There's drag and then there's transformation through spiritual osmosis, and that's what John Kelly accomplishes with this tribute... Magnificent." -- New York Times
"Sounds like pure camp on paper, but when the willowy Kelly sings Mitchell's songs, his haunting, crystalline countertenor is somewhere between male and female, human and angel."-- New York Magazine
"It is an homage that transcends" -- Daily News
After an eight-year absence, two-time Obie Award winning artist John Kelly once again inhabits the persona of Joni Mitchell in an entirely new evening of songs and stories. Conceived and performed by John Kelly, produced by TWEED TheaterWorks in association with Robbi Kearns, and directed by Kevin Malony, PAVED PARADISE REDUX: The Art of Joni Mitchell runs for 7 performances only beginning June 18 at Abrons Arts Center.
In PAVED PARADISE REDUX: The Art of Joni Mitchell, John Kelly's performance is a musical and visual homage to the great Canadian singer/songwriter. His countertenor uncannily evokes Mitchell's own smoky soprano as he sings songs from the various stages of her career in their original key. He also plays dulcimer and replicates Mitchell's guitar style by way of her signature open tunings. Kelly is accompanied on keyboard by musical director Zecca Esquibel, as well as additional musicians. The evening also features an original video component featuring Kevin Joseph (Broadway's Threepenny Opera, a.k.a. Flotilla DeBarge) as journalist Tavis Smiley in a recreation of his PBS interview with Mitchell.
"As a kid growing up in New Jersey, I would put on my headphones and be swept into Joni's world," explains Kelly on his love for Mitchell's music. "Hers is a world rich with wanderlust, emotion and innuendo. Her songs have the power to transport a lonely individual into another world. I suppose it was the words as much as the music. The combination of the two was, and remains powerful, beautiful and compelling." The Boston Globe recently wrote, "No less a critic than Joni Mitchell herself has been surprised by the impact of Kelly's cabaret tribute. »I was braced for a lampooning,' she told The New York Times after seeing "Paved Paradise" in Manhattan in 1997. »I didn't expect to be so touched. I cried in two places.' Mitchell is now one of Kelly's biggest fans."
An exhibition of Kelly's self-portraits will be on display at Alexander Gray Associates in Chelsea from May 20 - June 26. Kelly will also sing The Joni Mitchell Songbook in "Songs for a Shiny Hot Night" at Castle Clinton in Battery Park on August 6th as part of the annual River to River Festival.
John Kelly is an author, choreographer, director, performance and visual artist. He has received numerous awards including two Bessies, two Obies, the American Choreographer Award, a CalArts Alpert Award, and fellowships from The Guggenheim Foundation and The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Last year he was a Rome Prize Fellow in Visual Art at The American Academy in Rome. In a career that spans over two decades Kelly's works have been staged at venues including BAM, Lincoln Center, PS 1, The Warhol Museum, London's Tate Modern, PS 122, The Kitchen, Dance Theater Workshop and Carnegie Hall. In 2004, he appeared as the opening act for Natalie Merchant's Ophelia tour. Kelly was also an original cast member of James Joyce's The Dead on Broadway and won an Eliot Norton Award for Best Actor in the American Repertory Theater production of Dido, Queen of Carthage. In 2010, he will be an artist-in-residence at The Park Avenue Armory and at The Civitella Ranieri Foundation. He recently staged a workshop of The Escape Artist as part of Music Theatre Group's Here/See Series, which includes original songs written in collaboration with singer/songwriter Carol Lipnik. He is also developing a project with writer/director Moises Kaufman. For more information visit his website
TWEED TheaterWorks was founded by Kevin Malony in the early eighties and has grown from tiny late night shows in East Village dives to full-scale productions at premier Manhattan venues. For two decades TWEED has produced innovative and unusual live theatrical work, including performance art, plays & musicals, dance theater and category-defying extravaganzas. The TWEED New Works Festival (1985-1995) presented the early work of many of today's recognized theater artists, including John Kelly. TWEED's long involvement with Kelly began in the late eighties with the first theatrical incarnation of Pass The Blutwurstte, Bitte, and has continued in one form or another, for the past 20 years. The TWEED Fractured Classicks Series, a cult phenomenon, presents staged readings of classic American plays and films employing unique casting choices.
Robbi Kearns and Kearns Artists Services has produced and managed concerts, events, and theater projects worldwide since 1995. He has produced concerts both small and large, ranging from performances with singer/songwriters to The Lord of the Rings Symphony composed by Academy Award winning composer Howard Shore with over 200 musicians performing on stage. Robbi has produced Posteriors, Extra-Ordinary People and FOLLY: Vaudeville for the New Depression with Kevin Malony and TWEED TheaterWorks.
PAVED PARADISE REDUX: The Art of Joni Mitchell runs June 18 - 27, Thursday - Sunday at 8pm, Abrons Arts Center is located inside Henry Street Settlement at 466 Grand Street (accessible from the F train to East Broadway or Delancey, D/B trains to Grand Street and J/M trains to Essex Street). All performances are at 8:00pm. Tickets are $20 on Thursday & Sunday, $25 on Friday & Saturday. For information and reservations call 212-352-3101 or http://www.TheaterMania.com.
Obie Award Winner John Kelly Premieres
PAVED PARADISE REDUX:
The Art of Joni Mitchell
Limited Engagement runs June 18 - 27 at Abrons Arts Center
"There's drag and then there's transformation through spiritual osmosis, and that's what John Kelly accomplishes with this tribute... Magnificent." -- New York Times
"Sounds like pure camp on paper, but when the willowy Kelly sings Mitchell's songs, his haunting, crystalline countertenor is somewhere between male and female, human and angel."-- New York Magazine
"It is an homage that transcends" -- Daily News
After an eight-year absence, two-time Obie Award winning artist John Kelly once again inhabits the persona of Joni Mitchell in an entirely new evening of songs and stories. Conceived and performed by John Kelly, produced by TWEED TheaterWorks in association with Robbi Kearns, and directed by Kevin Malony, PAVED PARADISE REDUX: The Art of Joni Mitchell runs for 7 performances only beginning June 18 at Abrons Arts Center.
In PAVED PARADISE REDUX: The Art of Joni Mitchell, John Kelly's performance is a musical and visual homage to the great Canadian singer/songwriter. His countertenor uncannily evokes Mitchell's own smoky soprano as he sings songs from the various stages of her career in their original key. He also plays dulcimer and replicates Mitchell's guitar style by way of her signature open tunings. Kelly is accompanied on keyboard by musical director Zecca Esquibel, as well as additional musicians. The evening also features an original video component featuring Kevin Joseph (Broadway's Threepenny Opera, a.k.a. Flotilla DeBarge) as journalist Tavis Smiley in a recreation of his PBS interview with Mitchell.
"As a kid growing up in New Jersey, I would put on my headphones and be swept into Joni's world," explains Kelly on his love for Mitchell's music. "Hers is a world rich with wanderlust, emotion and innuendo. Her songs have the power to transport a lonely individual into another world. I suppose it was the words as much as the music. The combination of the two was, and remains powerful, beautiful and compelling." The Boston Globe recently wrote, "No less a critic than Joni Mitchell herself has been surprised by the impact of Kelly's cabaret tribute. »I was braced for a lampooning,' she told The New York Times after seeing "Paved Paradise" in Manhattan in 1997. »I didn't expect to be so touched. I cried in two places.' Mitchell is now one of Kelly's biggest fans."
An exhibition of Kelly's self-portraits will be on display at Alexander Gray Associates in Chelsea from May 20 - June 26. Kelly will also sing The Joni Mitchell Songbook in "Songs for a Shiny Hot Night" at Castle Clinton in Battery Park on August 6th as part of the annual River to River Festival.
John Kelly is an author, choreographer, director, performance and visual artist. He has received numerous awards including two Bessies, two Obies, the American Choreographer Award, a CalArts Alpert Award, and fellowships from The Guggenheim Foundation and The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Last year he was a Rome Prize Fellow in Visual Art at The American Academy in Rome. In a career that spans over two decades Kelly's works have been staged at venues including BAM, Lincoln Center, PS 1, The Warhol Museum, London's Tate Modern, PS 122, The Kitchen, Dance Theater Workshop and Carnegie Hall. In 2004, he appeared as the opening act for Natalie Merchant's Ophelia tour. Kelly was also an original cast member of James Joyce's The Dead on Broadway and won an Eliot Norton Award for Best Actor in the American Repertory Theater production of Dido, Queen of Carthage. In 2010, he will be an artist-in-residence at The Park Avenue Armory and at The Civitella Ranieri Foundation. He recently staged a workshop of The Escape Artist as part of Music Theatre Group's Here/See Series, which includes original songs written in collaboration with singer/songwriter Carol Lipnik. He is also developing a project with writer/director Moises Kaufman. For more information visit his website
TWEED TheaterWorks was founded by Kevin Malony in the early eighties and has grown from tiny late night shows in East Village dives to full-scale productions at premier Manhattan venues. For two decades TWEED has produced innovative and unusual live theatrical work, including performance art, plays & musicals, dance theater and category-defying extravaganzas. The TWEED New Works Festival (1985-1995) presented the early work of many of today's recognized theater artists, including John Kelly. TWEED's long involvement with Kelly began in the late eighties with the first theatrical incarnation of Pass The Blutwurstte, Bitte, and has continued in one form or another, for the past 20 years. The TWEED Fractured Classicks Series, a cult phenomenon, presents staged readings of classic American plays and films employing unique casting choices.
Robbi Kearns and Kearns Artists Services has produced and managed concerts, events, and theater projects worldwide since 1995. He has produced concerts both small and large, ranging from performances with singer/songwriters to The Lord of the Rings Symphony composed by Academy Award winning composer Howard Shore with over 200 musicians performing on stage. Robbi has produced Posteriors, Extra-Ordinary People and FOLLY: Vaudeville for the New Depression with Kevin Malony and TWEED TheaterWorks.
PAVED PARADISE REDUX: The Art of Joni Mitchell runs June 18 - 27, Thursday - Sunday at 8pm, Abrons Arts Center is located inside Henry Street Settlement at 466 Grand Street (accessible from the F train to East Broadway or Delancey, D/B trains to Grand Street and J/M trains to Essex Street). All performances are at 8:00pm. Tickets are $20 on Thursday & Sunday, $25 on Friday & Saturday. For information and reservations call 212-352-3101 or http://www.TheaterMania.com.
Jun 8: Four new 'The Fiddle and The Drum' ballet performances added
New dates have been announced for the Alberta Ballet's performances of Joni's The Fiddle and The Drum, all in 2010. Four performances total - Seattle, Washington on February 23, Irvine, California on February 25, and Los Angeles, California on February 26 and 27. Click the links for more information. (Thanks to Richard for the information).
Joni Tribute at Jazz à Vienne Festival, France - July 6
Yael Naim will be hosting a Tribute to Joni Mitchell at the Vienne Jazz Festival. Check her website for all the details.
From the jazz festival website:
"C'est un rêve que j'ai failli abandonner en cours de route", dit Yaël Naim de son dernier album, fruit de la rencontre avec le multi instrumentiste David Donatien.
Dotée d'une voix à la pureté troublante et d'un beau talent de compositrice, la chanteuse israélienne y chemine entre un folk gracile et une pop aérienne, entre ascétisme et fantaisie. Née en 1978 à Paris, Yaël a longtemps vécu à Ramat Hacharon, non loin de Tel-Aviv. "Je me souviens qu'il y avait un petit orgue à la maison sur lequel je pianotais sans arrêt. Un jour, en rentrant de l'école, j'ai trouvé un vrai piano dans ma chambre". Suivront 10 ans de conservatoire et de cours de piano classique : "je n'avais alors qu'une idée en tête : écrire des symphonies !". À 12 ans, Yaël découvre Sgt Pepper et Abbey Road des Beatles.Adolescente, elle se délecte de la soul d'Aretha Franklin. Vers 18 ans, un "flash" illumine la vie de la jeune chanteuse : Joni Mitchell. Cette musique ne la quittera jamais plus. Dans un club de jazz de Tel-Aviv, elle rencontre les musiciens de Winston Marsalis et donne quelques concerts avec eux. Yaël Naim forme son propre groupe en Israël, The AntiCollision. "Un cursus classique, mon goût pour la pop, le jazz et le folk... J'ignorais comment j'allais canaliser tout ce flot hétéroclite, mais je savais que je voulais en faire des chansons". Un concert la ramène à Paris en 2000. Quatre jours plus tard elle signe un contrat avec EMI. Le réalisateur Elie Chouraqui l'engage pour jouer Myriam dans la comédie musicale Les Dix Commandements, puis la sollicite pour la bande originale de son film Harrison's Flower. Son premier album (In A Man's Womb) est pourtant un échec. En 2004, c'est la rencontre avec David Donatien. Percussionniste d'origine antillaise, David a multiplié les contributions les plus variées, de Bernard Lavilliers à Wassis Diop ou Malia. Il est également un arrangeur et producteur remarquable. C'est David qui encouragera Yaël à défendre ses chansons en hébreu. Leur complicité est si patente qu'ils préfèrent désormais se présenter comme un groupe. Un groupe qui, entouré de musiciens de la trempe d'Eric Légnini (au piano), Stéphane Belmondo (à la trompette) ou Dré Pallemaerts (à la batterie) vient ici rendre un hommage empli de sensibilité à l'immense Joni Mitchell. Si l'on en juge par la sérénité qui se dégage de la chanteuse aux cheveux de jais, Yaël semble avoir désormais canalisé son "joli bordel intérieur" (beautiful mess inside).
From the jazz festival website:
"C'est un rêve que j'ai failli abandonner en cours de route", dit Yaël Naim de son dernier album, fruit de la rencontre avec le multi instrumentiste David Donatien.
Dotée d'une voix à la pureté troublante et d'un beau talent de compositrice, la chanteuse israélienne y chemine entre un folk gracile et une pop aérienne, entre ascétisme et fantaisie. Née en 1978 à Paris, Yaël a longtemps vécu à Ramat Hacharon, non loin de Tel-Aviv. "Je me souviens qu'il y avait un petit orgue à la maison sur lequel je pianotais sans arrêt. Un jour, en rentrant de l'école, j'ai trouvé un vrai piano dans ma chambre". Suivront 10 ans de conservatoire et de cours de piano classique : "je n'avais alors qu'une idée en tête : écrire des symphonies !". À 12 ans, Yaël découvre Sgt Pepper et Abbey Road des Beatles.Adolescente, elle se délecte de la soul d'Aretha Franklin. Vers 18 ans, un "flash" illumine la vie de la jeune chanteuse : Joni Mitchell. Cette musique ne la quittera jamais plus. Dans un club de jazz de Tel-Aviv, elle rencontre les musiciens de Winston Marsalis et donne quelques concerts avec eux. Yaël Naim forme son propre groupe en Israël, The AntiCollision. "Un cursus classique, mon goût pour la pop, le jazz et le folk... J'ignorais comment j'allais canaliser tout ce flot hétéroclite, mais je savais que je voulais en faire des chansons". Un concert la ramène à Paris en 2000. Quatre jours plus tard elle signe un contrat avec EMI. Le réalisateur Elie Chouraqui l'engage pour jouer Myriam dans la comédie musicale Les Dix Commandements, puis la sollicite pour la bande originale de son film Harrison's Flower. Son premier album (In A Man's Womb) est pourtant un échec. En 2004, c'est la rencontre avec David Donatien. Percussionniste d'origine antillaise, David a multiplié les contributions les plus variées, de Bernard Lavilliers à Wassis Diop ou Malia. Il est également un arrangeur et producteur remarquable. C'est David qui encouragera Yaël à défendre ses chansons en hébreu. Leur complicité est si patente qu'ils préfèrent désormais se présenter comme un groupe. Un groupe qui, entouré de musiciens de la trempe d'Eric Légnini (au piano), Stéphane Belmondo (à la trompette) ou Dré Pallemaerts (à la batterie) vient ici rendre un hommage empli de sensibilité à l'immense Joni Mitchell. Si l'on en juge par la sérénité qui se dégage de la chanteuse aux cheveux de jais, Yaël semble avoir désormais canalisé son "joli bordel intérieur" (beautiful mess inside).
Paved Paradise Redux in San Francisco; July 30 - August 2
Obie Award-winning performance artist John Kelly will bring his acclaimed performance piece Paved Paradise Redux: The Art of Joni Mitchell to San Francisco's Rrazz Room, July 30-August 2. For tickets, visit RRazzroom. For more information, visit John's website.
John Kelly sings Joni Mitchell in New York City, August 6
John Kelly Sings The Joni Mitchell Songbook: "Songs for a Shiny Hot Night" Four Nights of Peace, Love & Music: A Castle Clinton Tribute to Woodstock. August 06, 2009 at 7:00pm in Battery park, New York City. Ever since appearing as the renowned "Joni Mitchell" at the first Wigstock, John Kelly cast a spell of illusion that continues to captivate audiences. In a loving tribute, this award winning and extremely gifted performance artist will provide us with an intimate journey through songs from 'Blue' and 'Court and Spark'. Tickets will be distributed 2 per person, outside Castle Clinton on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 5:00PM on the day of the show.
'Hommage à Joni Mitchell' in Paris - September 4
Yael Naim performs a tribute to Joni Mitchell on Sept. 4, 2009 in Paris at La citè de la Musique for the "La Villette Jazz Festival". More info here in English and French.
SoCal JoniFest 2009 in Idyllwild, California - Sept 24th-27th
This year's JoniFest will be in the mile-high pine forest of Idyllwild, CA which sits in the mountains above the Palm Springs desert. Four days and nights of music-making, hiking, eating and drinking and lots of Joni-talk. The main event will be at The Creekstone Inn which is fully locked out for the event and additional rooms have been reserved off-campus. To attend please check out the Yahoo group created for this event and click the "add to cart" button to send a $100 per person deposit via PayPal. The balance of around $350 will be due in August. This event is hosted by Dave Blackburn and Robin Adler whose all-Joni band "Mutts of the Planet" will be performing.
Joni birthday tribute - FAR-West Conference, Irvine, CA - Nov 7
This year's Folk Alliance Region(FAR)-West Annual Conference will be held November 6-8, 2009 in Southern California at the Hyatt Regency Irvine in Irvine, California. Steve Dulson reports that a Joni Birthday Tribute and Song Circle will be held on the 7th. Contact Steve for more information.
The Fiddle and The Drum, Vancouver, January 22-24
Joni's ballet will be performed 3 times during the Winter Olympics in January. Performance dates are January 22-24 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, BC, Canada. More information can be found here.
The Fiddle and The Drum, Seattle, February 23
Alberta Ballet performs Joni's The Fiddle and The Drum at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington.
The Fiddle and The Drum, Irvine, CA, February 25
Alberta Ballet performs Joni's The Fiddle and The Drum at the Barclay Theater in Irvine, California.
The Fiddle and The Drum, Los Angeles, CA, February 26-27
Alberta Ballet performs Joni's The Fiddle and The Drum at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California. February 26 and 27.
Jonifest in New South Wales, Australia - March 11-15
The first ever JoniFest in the Southern Hemisphere will be held 11-15 March, 2010 at Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. It will be four days of fun, relaxation, music and love. More info can be found here.
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