June 16, 2002

Posted June 16, 2002

Folk & Blues - The Encyclopedia by Irwin Stambler and Lyndon Stambler contains a well-researched bio of Joni that's a great "crash course" for those just discovering her, while also serving as a handy reference for long-time Joniphiles. The entry, which covers her career and life from childhood through the Both Sides Now tour of May 2000, is based in part on Lyndon Stambler's interview with Joni for People magazine earlier that year. Densely packed with information, Stambler's bio still accomplishes a smooth, absorbing narrative, paying attention to all of the varied facets of Joni's career.

Joni's story is just the tip of the iceberg here, however -- the third edition of the Stamblers' book contains a treasure trove of information on a wide range of important musicians. Spanning the breadth of the folk and blues spectrum (and occasionally branching out to include blues and folk-influenced artists from other styles), the entries here range from pioneers like Bessie Smith and Woody Guthrie to current performers like Ani DiFranco. Also included are awards lists, and a few essays that help support the dust jacket's assertion that "This encyclopedia provides insight into why folk and blues are distinct fields of their own, but interact in many ways to provide important additions to America's musical heritage."

Lyndon Stambler tells me that "One need only to take a look at the index of our book to see how influential Joni Mitchell has been during the last 3 1/2 decades. Her name is scattered throughout Folk & Blues, influencing artists as diverse as the Band, Fairport Convention, Janet Jackson, Stan Rogers, Eric Andersen, CSN&Y, and Tracy Chapman. Although she long ago set aside the 'girl withthe guitar' image, she was gracious during the interview, even strumming on her Collings acoustic. Besides emphasizing her musical achievements, Folk &Blues also acknowledges her success in other creative pursuits. Her varied career is certainly reflected in the art work that fills up her home in Los Angeles: portraits of Miles Davis or a cubist landscape of Saskatchewan."

More information on Folk & Blues - The Encyclopedia is available at the authors' website, which also contains two links for online purchase (Amazon.com offers the best price of the two).