This review took AGES, because, as many of you know, I can't type to save my life, but I hope you enjoy this description of our night. I wish you could have ALL been there with us!!
Hugs, Ashara -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We arrived at the Liberty Grand, a large stately building,to see a very large banner in front announcing what was in store for us thatevening: An Homage to Joni Mitchell as part of the 6-week long World LeadersFestival. The evening began with cocktails, and Joni made a short appearanceduring the hour. Then a wonderful sit down dinner of Elderflower Cured AtlanticSalmon, Pecan Crusted Yukon Caribou with Saskatoon Berries, Goat Cheese andButternut Squash, and a delicious White Chocolate Cheesecake with BlueberryCassis Sauce. Executive Chef, Anthony Walsh from Canoe Restaurant and Barwanted to capture the brilliance of this country through the flavors andtextures of regional cuisine. He even had a substitute for this vegetariandiner! As we made our way into the theater, it quickly becameapparent that this would be a very interesting venue, with the stage in thecenter and seats to either side of it. Not a traditional theater nor theater inthe round, it would be curious to see how this would work for the audience. The darkened stage started to glow a soft blue as Both SidesNow was played by the band, which consisted of a piano player, a cellist, andtwo other musicians that were playing Indian type drums, bells, and axylophone. Brent Carver, Ann Marie McDonald, and Rebecca Jenkins came out toguide the audience through a multi-sensory evening consisting of liveperformances, media clips, and special presentations by many of Jonibs friendsand influences. Brent painted the scene with a narrative of Joan Andersonbsearly life on the prairie, while the cellist accompanied him with a softversion of Both Sides Now underneath, and the two large monitors above wentthrough a slide show of Joan as a young girl. Of course, he mentions a hugeinfluence of Joanbs, Mr. Kratzman, who told her, b If you can paint with abrush, you can paint with words.b Next, Brent sang a beautiful version of Nightin the City. More anecdotal stories, such as her Grade 4 report cardsaying, b Original ideas with a gift of interpretation.b And another Mr.Kratzman piece of advice, to b write in your own blood.b This was followed byseveral of Jonibs poems including b The Fishbowlb and b I Am a Guitar.b Whilelistening to these poems, we were treated to a slide show of many of Jonibs earlyfelt-tip pen drawings on the monitors, including many that are in the bookb Star Art.b Gordon Lightfoot was next invited to the stage to talk aboutthe early days, when Joni was first getting started in the music business. Hebrought us back to Detroit in 1965, when Joan and Chuck Mitchell were playingat the Chess Mate. He reminisced about being invited up to their apartment, andhaving to walk up 5 flights of stairs carrying guitars. He knew even then thatshe was a quality songwriter. He also talked about the Beatles coming onto thescene, and how every time they each had a new album to promote, there was a newBeatles album on the shelf next to theirs. He ended with how happy he was to bethere and how he hadnbt seen her since 1976. Then off the stage he went toreceive a hug from the honoree. Joel Bernstein was next to honor Joni, in his b disembodiedvoice.b Pictures of Joel and Joni on the monitor gave way to pictures that hehad taken of her over the course of knowing Joni as her friend, photographer,and music transcriber for over 30 years. He explained the difference betweenstandard tuning and open tuning. He said, b When the young Joni Mitchell wasfirst introduced to these open tunings, she coaxed some very different soundsfrom the guitar strings.b He went on to say, b And one day long ago, whileretuning her guitar from one open tuning to another, she stopped someplace inbetween and listened. bOoooob&b&.delicious!!b thought Joni. bI think Ibll stayhere a while and explore.b And so she did, coming up with both a new andoriginal tuning that wasnbt standard or open and the new and original chords toplay in it. This was the musical equivalent of Alice opening the little doorand glimpsing an entirely new world beyond. From that day to this, Jonibscuriosity, sense of adventure, and unique sense of what composers call btonecolorb have resulted in her own very personal discovery and deep exploration ofliterally dozens of these new worlds.b Joel mentions that he is currently completing aproject of many years- a 2-Volume set of arrangements of every one of Jonibsreleased songs, complete with carefully transcribed tunings and chords foreach. Hoping to be released next year, he says it will provide a b detailed mapof where she has traveled musically over the years.b He says he hopes it willinspire others to explore her songs and finishes with, b But you know what? Evenwith the book, when it comes to playing Joni Mitchell songs, nobody can do itlike bThe Mitchb herself.b
