The totally different performers onstage spoke to the variety of Mitchell’s affect: Annie Lennox, Allison Russell, Wendy and Lisa from Prince’s Revolution. Since I nonetheless can’t get the live performance off my thoughts, I believed I’d have fun that spirit of musical group by providing a form of who’s who of the Joni Jam. Some names you’ll most likely acknowledge, others you won’t — all of the extra motive to present them a pay attention. Now for those who’ll excuse me, I’ve to go discover some contemporary apples earlier than leaving city.
Listen along on Spotify as you read.
1. Annie Lennox: “No More ‘I Love You’s’”
Earlier this yr, when Mitchell acquired the Library of Congress’s prestigious Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the good Annie Lennox gave a efficiency of “Both Sides Now” that introduced one thing solely new out of that track. Seriously, just watch it. The dramatic finger-pointing! On Saturday night time, Lennox honored Mitchell with a synthy, atmospheric cowl of “Ladies of the Canyon,” much like the version she recorded for a 2007 Mitchell tribute album. Lennox has lengthy been an incredible, fluid interpreter of different individuals’s materials: For the longest time, I didn’t even know that “No More ‘I Love You’s,’” the leadoff observe from her 1995 album “Medusa,” was a canopy. But it’s, and Lennox lifted a beautiful 1986 track by the Lover Speaks out of semi-obscurity with this passionate rendition. As ever, she has style. (Listen on YouTube)
2. Allison Russell: “The Returner”
Onstage, when she accompanied her for a rendition of “Young at Heart,” Mitchell known as the Americana artist Allison Russell “essentially the most stunning clarinet participant ever.” But she’s a heck of a singer and lyricist, too, as this uplifting title observe from her upcoming second album “The Returner” attests. (Listen on YouTube)
3. Sarah McLachlan: “Sweet Surrender”
Just a really underrated single from Sarah McLachlan’s multiplatinum “Surfacing.” Put some respect on Sarah McLachlan’s identify! (Listen on YouTube)
4. Blake Mills: “Skeleton Is Walking”
Mitchell’s Gorge efficiency of “Amelia,” from her singular 1976 album “Hejira,” was a spotlight for me — not just for the lushness of her vocals, however due to the musician and producer Blake Mills’s trustworthy accompaniment, on Mitchell’s personal guitar. There’s a exact form of spaciousness to the guitar phrasings on “Hejira,” and Mills did a wonderful job recreating them. You can hear extra of his nimble guitar work on the ambling, psychedelic solo he noodles over the again half of “Skeleton Is Walking,” from his forthcoming solo album, “Jelly Road.” (Listen on YouTube)
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