I dont as a rule care for Joni covers. At least, I thought I didnt. I suppose I could be prejudiced. No one, I thought, could possibly sing Joni Mitchell the way Joni Mitchell herself could do.
So, what about if someone sang Joni Mitchell their own way? Pazfest, the two-CD set of live all-Joni music recorded at the Howlin Wolf, New Orleans May 28, 2000, is an eclectic collection of Joni Mitchell music sung and played many different ways. As always with such things, I have my own personal favourites, the ones that stand out for me in some way or another. The first CD starts out with John Parkers take on I think I understand (you cant go wrong with that, in my book anyway, but add to it a voice like John Parkers, and maybe you will understand!) followed by his version of Both Sides Now. You may have heard BSN sung by a multitude of different voices from the sublime to the ridiculous, but I can guarantee youll be singing along with John and having a good time while youre at it. The duo of Danzig and Wooley (Im sure they do have first names) performs The Priest and Trouble Child using some amazing-sounding stringed instrument (I cant figure out exactly what instrument that is, but whatever it is, it sure sounds nice!) You may think if you hear yet another version of Big Yellow Taxi, youll scream, but John Rankin does a very fun, very snappy, all-instrumental version here and makes it brand new again. On to Disc 2 and some of my very favourites - Kim Prevost and Bill Solley with a cool and jazzy version of Woodstock, followed by Both sides now. Kims version of Woodstock is most likely my favourite in the whole 2-disc set. Following that are two by the Denise Marie Band, Blue Motel Room and Furry sings the blues. Denises vocals on Blue Motel Room are right up at the top of my favourites list. Following is a set by the jmdls own Michael Paz, with his smooth and dreamy vocals on Amelia and Hejira, with an amazing solo in between the two by Beth Patterson, playing one of those weird stringed instruments (could be a banjo, but it sounds fuller than a banjo). Whatever it is, its lovely. The second CD ends with a set by Bryan Thomas and his band. Now, if youve heard Bryans singing and guitar playing on his own two CDs, Ones and Zeroes and Radio Plastic Jennifer, you might understand my saying that Bryan has one of those voices that makes you think, Whoa, this guys voice is way too naked! Put some clothes on it or something! If you took bits of Hendrix and Prince and Jeff Buckley and you mixed them all up in some kind of molecule munching machine and then put them all back together into one person, you might end up with a Bryan Thomas (or maybe not.) Bryans guitar is amazing and he seems to have a lot of fun with words. (In Black Crow he sings, Theres a crow flying hes black as a highway, hes as black as me; and later, I took a plane to a highway, then I drove to a pontoon plane. Took a plane to a taxi - big yellow taxi, just like this train. If you couldnt be in New Orleans on May 28, 2000, what would be the next best thing? The Pazfest CD of course. And in acquiring for yourself and your friends a copy of this excellent collection of live music, you will also be helping out a number of worthy causes, including jmdl.com, jonimitchell.com and the Ruth Paz Foundation, a foundation that helps children in Honduras receive medical treatment they would not otherwise receive. Information on where and how to order Pazfest were recently posted by Michael Paz, but you can also find it at www.jmdl.com - right on the first page. ===== Catherine Toronto ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
