The News   

Available June of 2010, Experience Music Project (EMP) presents Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash. This dynamic new exhibition showcases some of the most memorable photography in the history of popular music: iconic performance shots of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Nirvana; portraits of Bo Diddley, Joni Mitchell, and Johnny Cash; as well as intimate photographs of Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Yoko Ono. All chosen by a legendary musician who is also highly regarded as a photographer, collector, and pioneer in digital imaging and printing.

As guest curator, Graham Nash brings his rich musical history, keen eye, and storytelling skills to an exhibition of 98 rock 'n' roll images taken by 40 renowned rock photographers, including Anton Corbijn, Lynn Goldsmith, Annie Leibovitz, Daniel Kramer, Jim Marshall, Neal Preston, Mick Rock, Francesco Scavullo, Alfred Wertheimer, and Nash himself. More information here.
 

Jay Blakesberg is a San Francisco-based photographer and video director whose work appears regularly in many magazines, including Rolling Stone and Guitar Player. The March 4 event is a Los Angeles premiere exhibit and will feature over 40 images of recognizable faces from the past and present musical landscape. The range of artists featured will include Radiohead, Nirvana, Willie Nelson Jerry Garcia, Widespread Panic, U2, Joni Mitchell, Phish, Dave Matthews, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more. Opened in 1998, Mr Musichead Gallery is LA's first gallery devoted to featuring a vast and unique collection of album cover art, poster art, fine art and photography that chronicles rock and roll's rich heritage. More info here.
 

Saturday, March 6; Joni Mitchell Tribute at Hugh's Room in Toronto, hosted by Mia Sheard. Featuring Lily Frost, Wilderness of Manitoba, Leah Salomaa, Paisley Jura & Nick Zubeck. Band: Joan Besen, Ryan Granville-Martin, Chris Gartner, Colleen Allen & Kurt Swinghammer. $22 in advance or $25 at the door.
 

JoniMitchell.com is back on-line after a bit of an extended absence. Seems the site is getting a little too popular for its own good and is overwhelming our server. In light of this, we regret having to announce that you must now be logged into JoniMitchell.com in order to access the Library of Articles and to do a site-wide search. Registering is a quick process and all we need is to verify that you are a human being with a valid email address. We will never use your email address for anything.

The Library of Articles relies on frequent database access and has come to be "hammered" by automated bots across the globe, overwhelming the server. The only way to keep them out, keep the site up, and keep the site free to everyone is to require a log in. Consider it your own personal Joni Mitchell Library Card. Thanks for your understanding.
 

Lichfield Arts will kick off life at their temporary home with a performance from Sally Barker. Holy Cross Hall on Chapel Lane will be the venue when she pays tribute to the songs of Joni Mitchell on January 30. Sally a popular performer in Lichfield and has appeared in the city as a member of the Poozies. She'll be joined by Glen Hughes (keyboard/dulcimer) and Debbie Cassell (banjo/vocals) for this latest performance. More info...
 

As Winston Churchill famously said, "It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key." The key to the mysterious boxed set seems to be Joni herself. In an interview with the Vancouver Sun published today, Joni says "I was trying to put together a box set, which I think I'm going to abort, I don't know that I'm going to do it or not. I don't like listening back, no I don't." So there we have it, not a definite no but pretty darn close.
 

On Friday evening, March 17, 1967, Ed Sciaky went to the 2nd Fret (operated by Manny "Money" Rubin) in downtown Philadelphia (on Sansom Street) and recorded an interview with Joni Mitchell. Recorded between sets, this recording was mastered at 7 and a half IPS on Shamrock recording tape, a cheap brand of audio tape but all that college student Ed Sciaky could afford. It was recorded on an Amex 354 mono tape recorder with an RCA 44 microphone. Ed Sciaky spoke into one side of the mic and Joni into the other. Since Joni spoke softly, her level was lower than Ed. The interview was engineered by Mike Biel, a student executive at the station at that time.

The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia (of which Ed is now a member), an organization of 350 area broadcasters, has recently equalized and adjusted the levels of the interview and the complete audio interview is now available on their website. They are proud to make this priceless interview again available to the public. The entire interview has not been heard since it was aired the next evening, Saturday, March 18th on Ed's folk music show called "Broadside," which was broadcast Saturday evenings from 8 pm and 12 midnight over WRTI-FM, the campus radio station of Temple University in Philadelphia. The 1974 airing over WMMR was an excerpt.
 

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is proud to present the newly-formed band, LIMBSAKIMBO in "Court And Spark," at Birdland on Sunday, January 31st at 6pm. The concert will be part of the award-winning series Broadway at Birdland. Sunday, January 31 at 6pm Broadway at Birdland 315 West 44 Street, NYC 212-581-3080

LIMBSAKIMBO follows up it's summer tribute to Marvin Gaye with an exploration and reevaluation of the poetry, intellect, and mystery of Joni Mitchell. From folk to funk, jazz to soul, Joni Mitchell has reinvented and exploded musical styles, and her work inspires Limbsakimbo to continue their pursuit of stylistic freedom and adventurous music making.

LIMBSAKIMBO is Lindsay Mendez, Michael Aarons, and Chris Fenwick, whose creative energy and musical restlessness marked their work together on the recent Broadway revival of Grease. The band will also be joined by Damien Bassman on drums, Mark Vanderpoel on bass, and Summer Boggess on cello.

Lead singer Lindsay Mendez was an original cast member of the most recent Broadway revival of Grease, playing the role of Jan. She also served as a "Mennonette" to Sherie Rene Scott in the critically acclaimed Everyday Rapture at 2nd Stage Theater this past spring. She can currently be seen as Betty Jean in The Marvelous Wonderettes at the Westside Theater.

Guitarist and arranger Michael Aarons has worked with Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow, Patti LaBelle, Paul McCartney, Luther Vandross, Michael McDonald, James Ingram, Liza Minnelli, Elton John and others. He originated the guitar chairs at Laugh Whore, High Fidelity, Grease, 9 to 5, and Memphis, where he currently plays. Michael is an arranger on the hit show, Next To Normal. As a composer, Michael's music has been featured on Lifetime, Style Network and MTV.

Pianist and arranger Chris Fenwick has musical directed productions on Broadway, off-Broadway, and across the country. He has also accompanied and conducted numerous artists in concert including Patti LuPone, Elaine Stritch and Audra McDonald. His most recent project was the world premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's Giant. Currently, he can be seen as Associate Musical Director on The Addams Family.
 

A series of paintings inspired by a 30-year-old album by Joni Mitchell is featured in a dual exhibition opening Friday at Shawn's Gate Art Gallery & Studio, 409 Main Street in Medina, New York. The show, on view through Jan. 14, 2010, features paintings by Mark Weld of Middleport and metal sculpture by Emil Smith of Medina. More information by calling the Gallery at (585) 733-2153.
 

Joni Mitchell's star-maker machinery inspires a tribute
BY LISA RICH
35th Anniversary Celebration of Joni Mitchell

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, November 21
Where: Concerts at the Crossing, 268 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville
Admission: $23 at the door; concertsatthecrossing.com

When musician Joni Mitchell released her album "Court and Spark" in 1974, she dared to do something different.

The songstress was deliberately stepping away from the folk rock niche that had gained her adoration and scores of publicity and fans.

It was time to experiment with other sounds: jazz and jazz fusion. The process paid off. she later won a Grammy award for the album for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).

Thirty-five years later, a group of musicians in their own right are paying tribute to Mitchell's release of "Court and Spark" and her decades of inspiring music that followed the album.

Tomorrow night at Concerts at the Crossing in Titusville, singer/songwriter Maura Kennedy is leading the 35th anniversary celebration.

Joining Kennedy will be three of her favorite musical friends including Sloan Wainwright, Kelly Flint and LisaBeth (with Maggie Marshall).
 

In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 great voices in recorded history. The series isn't an attempt to catalog the so-called "greatest" singers. Instead, they hope to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. Earlier, NPR asked the public to nominate artists for the series and received thousands of options. NPR and a panel of experts are in the process of whittling them down to about 100 singers - a mix of familiar names and surprising discoveries. Currently, down to around 130 singers, Joni is still in the running! Let's help Joni get recognized as one of the 50 great voices. Cast your vote!

Also, the word from the man on the street is that Reprise has begun handling the new releases from Rhino. There was some concern about Rhino's health and it appears now that there still may be hope for the release of Joni's boxed set what with Reprise stepping in. Sorry for the mere speculation, but the status of this set seems to be the most closely guarded secret since the appointment of the pope. Thanks to Greg for the tip.
 

Joni's birthday is November 7th. Wish her a Happy Birthday here. There is no guarantee that she'll see it, but one never knows!
 

Happy Birthday Roberta Joan ~ A Star-Studded Joni Mitchell Tribute, will be held Saturday, November 7th at 7pm at Your Inner Vagabond in Pittsburgh, PA. In this very special homage to Joni Mitchell on her 66th birthday, a diverse array of artists (featuring Autumn Ayers, Brewer's Row, The Weathered Road, Heather Kropf, Mark Dignam, Maddie Georgi, Ruby Vere, and The Thomas Twins) will show how Joni has influenced their own songwriting by performing their original songs as well some of their favorites from Joni. Joni-philes will not want to miss a minute of this show, which starts promptly at 7pm. Doors: 6:30pm, Show: 7pm-11:30pm, $8 cover in the Back Lounge. Produced by TR Creative Services.
 

What: Christine Fagan and the Impressions in Jazz Orchestra perform new arrangements of music by Joni Mitchell and Charles Mingus
When: Friday
Where: Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper St., Ottawa, Canada
Tickets: $25/adults, $15/students
 

Morro Bay Sings Joni - A Tribute to Joni Mitchell. Singers to appear: Lindsay Tomasic, Jody Mulgrew (formally with the Johnny Starlings), Raeme Miner (formally with Resination), Allison Keller and Friends.

November 14th, 2009 at the Morro Bay Vets Hall. Food, Beer, Wine, and Drawing Tickets for sale between 5pm & 7pm. Music starts at 7pm, Tickets are $20.00 ($30.00 at the door). 100% of proceeds go to the Morro Bay Community Foundation. For Ticket info call 805.234.2980.

Raising Funds and Awareness for the Morro Bay Community Foundation, Providing Recreational Activity Scholarships for children in Morro Bay, Los Osos and Cayucos.

FOOD: Homemade soups with salad & bread (Catered by The Galley Seafood Grill and Bar)
WINE: by Clayhouse Wines
BEER: by Einhorn Beer Company
Food, wine and beer not included in price of admission.
 

The Canwest Cabaret Festival features the "Joni Mitchell Songbook" concert with Heather Bambrick, Suba Sankaran, David Sereda, Elizabeth Sheppard and Denzal Sinclaire. Musical Direction: Suba Sankaran. Two nights, October 29th and 31st at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts (55 Mill Street, Building 49) in Toronto. More information here.
 

Who says the 70's are over? Three of Joni's albums will be re-released on 180 gram vinyl, yes vinyl! Ladies of the Canyon, Court and Spark , and The Hissing of Summer Lawns will all be released on December 8. Get your order in at the links above then head to the basement and find that turntable. Yes, the 70's may be back but those 70's prices are long gone.
 

"Music at the Movies" presents a Joni Mitchell Tribute in Woodstock, NY at the Tinker Street Cinema featuring some of Woodstock's finest musicians and singers. October 25.
 

On August 14, 2008, sixty of the Washington D.C. areas' finest musicians & singers gathered together to pay tribute to the songs of Joni Mitchell at the Music Center at Strathmore. The 2,000 seat concert hall was sold out and the crowd was treated to a wonderful career retrospective of one of musics' immortals as more than 30 of Mitchell's songs were performed. The show was produced by Bandhouse Gigs, a DC based not for profit entity that has organized nine successful tribute concerts in the area since their beginnings in 2004. Other tribute honorees include The Band, Neil Young, Warren Zevon, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint, Bob Dylan, the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and Nils Lofgren.

We are pleased to announce that a CD featuring 16 songs performed that night is now available through Bandhouse Gigs.

Among the evenings performers were some of the shining lights in DC music including; Grammy award winners John Jennings, & Jon Carroll, Mary Ann Redmond, Lea, Grace Griffith, Laura Burhenn, Naked Blue, Chaise Lounge, Luke Brindley, Margot MacDonald, Chelsea Lee, Heidi Martin, Diane Rosenthal, Esther Haynes, Carey Creed, One Horse Town, Cairo Fred, Deeme Katson, Cal Everett, and guitarist Steuart Smith of the Eagles who recorded with Mitchell on her Turbulent Indigo album. More than 25 of D.C.'s finest musicians backed this array of singers throughout the concert.
 

Getting news on the previously announced boxed set is harder to come by than an appearance by Joni herself. Some sources say November (highly unlikely), some say February (more likely), but most official sources say nothing at all. As soon as we get some reliable information, we'll have it for you here.