From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2000 #151 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk JMDL Digest Thursday, March 23 2000 Volume 2000 : Number 151 Ashara has set up a "Wally Breese Memorial Fund," with all donations going directly into the upkeep of the JoniMitchell.com website. Wally kept the website going with his own funds, and it will now be up to Jim to continue. If you would like to donate to this fund, please make all checks payable to: Jim Johanson and send them to: Ashara Stansfield P.O. Box 215 Topsfield, MA 01983 USA ------- The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage can be found at http://www.jonimitchell.com and contains the latest news, a detailed bio, original interviews and essays, lyrics, and much more. ------- The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more. ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- What's goin on at TNT? [zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny)] BSN Review from Wall Of Sound [zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny)] Re: payphones etc (NJC) ["Alan Lorimer" ] Re: Joni NEWS today @Rolling Stone.com ["P. Henry" ] review from music365 [Deb Messling ] oops! (no NJC) [Deb Messling ] BSN [HanknBG@aol.com] Joni at Pine Knob - Michigan ["cassy" ] BSN-orchestral accompaniment [waytoblu@mindspring.com] Montreal Gazette BSN Review ["Ken (Slarty)" ] Saskatoon Mendel Opening [AsharaJM@aol.com] Reference: Have Yourself a Dreary Little Christmas [Bounced Message ] Re: Reference: Have Yourself a Dreary Little Christmas [Don Rowe ] Philly/Camden on sale Monday [kb420@webtv.net (gr8fuldave)] BSN (at last!) [Catherine McKay ] Re: Renee as Bridget - NJC [Catherine McKay ] Re: pay phones njc [Catherine McKay ] Gaaas-lighting Abbey NJC ["Jim L'Hommedieu" ] Address change ["Michael Paz" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 00:06:03 -0800 (PST) From: zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny) Subject: What's goin on at TNT? Don wrote: <> Here's the best full description of the tribute and their "Master's Series" I've found so far. Some pretty glowing words for Joan. Company Press Release Shawn Colvin, Elton John, Wynonna Judd, Chaka Khan, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Richard Thompson and Cassandra Wilson Among Artist Line-Up Scheduled to Salute Folk-Pop Legend in AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL Airing Sunday, April 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TNT Ashley Judd to Host NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 22, 2000-- Turner Network Television (TNT) continues its TNT Masters Series with a tribute concert event celebrating the music of folk-pop legend Joni Mitchell. Highlights from her body of work will be performed by some of the most celebrated names in contemporary music, including Shawn Colvin, Elton John, Wynonna Judd, Chaka Kahn, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Richard Thompson, Cassandra Wilson, among others. Special guest and additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks. Mitchell will also perform. AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL will tape on Thursday, April 6, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Ashley Judd will host AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL, which is scheduled to air on Sunday, April 16, at 9:00p.m. ET/PT. The TNT Masters Series showcases individuals whose contributions have had a profound influence on contemporary culture. TNT launched its Masters Series in 1998 with Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night and followed with An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash in spring 1999, which garnered an Emmy® nomination. One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute premiered in December 1999. ``Joni Mitchell is an artistic visionary whose contributions to music and culture reflect the essence of the TNT Masters Series,´´ said Bradley J. Siegel, president of general entertainment networks, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. ``Celebrating her music with performers who have all been influenced by her work will make for an unforgettable evening.´´ ``We see this television special as a gift to an outstanding artist for an inspiring career that spans more than 30 years,´´ said Jeb Brien, executive producer of the special. ``The TNT Masters Series is the ideal vehicle for such a tribute.´´ Mitchell's groundbreaking style has made her an artistic legend. An innovator in folk, jazz, pop, avant-garde and world music, Mitchell is a four-time Grammy® Award winner and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Her Miles of Aisles (1974, #2), The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975, #4), Hejira (1976, #13), and Court and Spark (1974, #2) are considered among the most influential and important albums of the rock era. Some of her many classic hits include ``Big Yellow Taxi,´´ ``Free Man In Paris,'' ``Help Me,´´ ``Both Sides Now,´´ and ``Woodstock.´´ Both Sides Now, her latest album, is scheduled for release on March 21 on Reprise Records. A passionate song cycle about love in all of its manifestations, Both Sides Now features sultry, dramatic renditions of 12 love songs from the 1920s to the present. AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL will be produced for TNT by Automatic Productions. Jeb Brien is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director. Monica Hardiman is producer, and Ali Gifford is talent producer. Larry Klein is the musical director. Sandy Shapiro is executive producer for TNT. Jodi Hurwitz is executive producer for Automatic Productions. Automatic Productions is a television production, distribution and packaging company headquartered in New York City. It has a diverse slate of music variety series and specials, and is a leading supplier of entertainment programming for network, cable and broadcast syndication. Recent projects include A&E's Emmy and CableACE Award-winning series Live By Request; the critically acclaimed weekly television music series Sessions at West 54th; TNT's An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash and Britney Spears In Concert for the Disney Channel. Turner Network Television, currently seen in 77.1 million homes, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s 24-hour, advertiser-supported service offering original motion pictures and miniseries; original series, non-fiction specials and live events; contemporary films from the world's largest film library, the combined Turner and Warner Bros. Film libraries; exciting NBA sports action; exclusive coverage of both the 2000 Winter and 2001 Summer Goodwill Games; and popular television series. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grace dies when it becomes us verses them......Philip Yancey ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 00:12:24 -0800 (PST) From: zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny) Subject: BSN Review from Wall Of Sound by: Bob Remstein With the passing of Frank Sinatra, only a precious few from the "old guard" of jazz and pop standards singers remain. Now, it seems, singers who cut their teeth on more recent pop styles will have to carry on the torch, which is exactly what Joni Mitchell aims to do on her latest, Both Sides Now. In 1998, Joni Mitchell surprised listeners with her impressive guest appearance on keyboardist Herbie Hancock's ambitious Gershwin's World CD, delivering a wonderfully smoky and mature rendition of "The Man I Love." On Both Sides Now, she serves up an entire album of standards and the like, backed by a 70-piece ensemble (largely composed of London Symphony Orchestra members) and aided by Hancock, co-producer (and ex-husband) Larry Klein, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, trumpeter Mark Isham, and other fine musicians. There are many things to appreciate about this disc, although it seems that the overriding Joni-goes-symphonic theme sometimes supersedes the needs of the individual songs. Mitchell's voice, with its cigarette-stained crackle, bears little resemblance to the clear, folksy sound she established 30 years ago. For the most part, she has learned to use it wisely in conjunction with these chestnuts from another age, turning in especially fine interpretations on "Don't Go to Strangers" and the Rodgers and Hart bauble "I Wish I Were in Love Again." In spots, though, she seems intimidated by either the weightiness of the arrangements or the fame of the songs themselves, getting overly fussy and filigreed (as on "Stormy Weather"). The strangest situation occurs on the final selection, in which Mitchell reinterprets one of her most famous songs, the lovely, fable-like title track. Elements of transcendence lurk beneath the surface of Vince Mendoza's colossal orchestration, but the sheer size of his treatment forces Mitchell into a corner, transforming gentle folk-rock into a philosophical manifesto. Like a good bit of Both Sides Now, it's certainly worth hearing, but it defeats its own purpose. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grace dies when it becomes us verses them......Philip Yancey ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 20:39:27 +1100 From: "Alan Lorimer" Subject: Re: payphones etc (NJC) Evian said: >gas WENT UP AGAIN today to 74.9 cents a litre Just as a comparison, Petrol here is 96.7 cents per litre (about 60 cents US), local phone calls from payphones are 40 cents (about 25 cents US). It would be interesting to find out what people are paying in the US, UK, NZ and Europe. Alan Lorimer Hawley Beach Tasmania ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 03:12:33 -0800 From: "P. Henry" Subject: Re: Joni NEWS today @Rolling Stone.com Hi Laura, Thanks for the heads-up on the schedule, though I doubt there's much of a chance Joni will extend her tour to Guam. At any rate, while browsing around there I came across the general bio page which started off with: "Joni Mitchell is one of the most critically acclaimed, influential female singer-songwriters of all time...", a fairly typical statement one is likely to find, and it occurred to me, if Joni is only 'one of' them, who's the other one? ;o) pat Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 06:22:10 -0500 From: Deb Messling Subject: BSN review in Salon.com Somehow I knew that Salon was going to trash BSN: By Seth Mnookin March 23, 2000 | Joni Mitchell and Patti Smith were born three years apart, Mitchell in 1943 and Smith in 1946. Their debuts were separated by seven years: Mitchell's flowery, eponymous first album was released in 1968; Smith's fiery "Horses," in 1975. Both have grown into roles as elder stateswomen of rock, with Smith serving as den mother for angry, young post-punks and Mitchell's "Blue" acting as a cornerstone for successive generations of waifish songwriters. Their new albums were released on the same day this week. The parallels end there: Smith's "Gung Ho," featuring a baker's dozen of new songs and her longtime backing band, is a wild burst of adrenalin and beauty; Mitchell's overwrought "Both Sides Now" is an orchestral collection of standards (and a pair of Mitchell's own classics) that collapses under the weight of her jazz pretensions and decimated voice. "Gung Ho" is Smith's third release since she returned after a long hiatus from recording music with "Gone Again" (1996). It's a fuller, more exhilarating effort than that album or "Peace and Noise," both of which focused on death and loss. On "Gung Ho," Smith sings, screams, moans, groans and roars about Mother Teresa, Ho Chi Minh, slavery, Gen. George Custer, Salome, war, redemption and honor. And with a sharper, more focused band than she has had since her heady CBGB days in the mid- and late 1970s, Smith's musical vision matches her poetics. With the band -- longtime collaborators Lenny Kaye (guitars) and Jay Dee Daugherty (drums), Tony Shanahan (bass) and Smith's boyfriend, Oliver Ray (guitars) -- Smith veers from anthems to open-ended jams to downright funky ditties. And the handful of guests, such as Television's Tom Verlaine and R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe (both of whom lend a hand on the charging, radio-friendly alterna-rock number "Glitter in Their Eyes"), always adds to the mix. But it's Smith's voice that is the best instrument of all. On "New Party," a funked-up tune that wouldn't sound out of place in the Red Hot Chili Peppers' repertoire, Smith reaches back to her neo-bop roots, scatting free verse, reaching down to growl and leaping up to soar. On "Lo and Beholden," she plays a timeless seductress performing the dance of seven veils, purring about how her seventh and last veil "will cost you." On the Mother Teresa-inspired "One Voice" (a tune she introduced at this year's Tibet House benefit) Smith brays with such conviction that she manages to make lines about the garden of consciousness and fertile seeds of charity sound inspiring instead of overwrought. Even Smith's missteps -- "Strange Messengers," in which the singer fashions herself as the ghost of African-American slaves admonishing today's crackheads, is one -- are noteworthy for their passion. Twenty-five years have passed since Smith first began singing her poetry on New York's Lower East Side, and her voice is still rich with power and conviction and fresh with vigor and life. And then there's Mitchell. Her voice was always a more precious instrument than Smith's often blunt one, and it has aged far less gracefully. The contrast is painful: Whereas Smith has preserved her voice and found new ways to communicate her passions, Mitchell has ravished her once otherworldly soprano with years of heavy smoking. She's now a dusty-voiced alto without her old vocal reach or stamina. On "Both Sides Now," Mitchell's range is not so much truncated as it is decimated. At times, you can hear her gasping for breath. And while there is ample precedent for an aging singer's refashioning her voice to powerful effect (Billie Holiday is the one Mitchell's publicist is pushing), Mitchell's scratchy roughness just sounds like wasted talent. The arrangements don't help, either. The London Symphony Orchestra's florid string sections and stray piccolos in "You're My Thrill" and "Stormy Weather" are schlocky. And Mitchell, an artist who once used jazz musicians like Jaco Pastorius to such great effect on her pop albums, squanders guests like Wayne Shorter on "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" and Herbie Hancock on "Sometimes I'm Happy." Mitchell's own compositions provide the lowest moments. Her album is intended to "trace the arc of a modern romantic relationship," but the lyrics from "Both Sides Now" ("I've looked at clouds from both sides now") are hardly on a par with words by Harold Arlen or Rodgers and Hart. The other tune, "A Case of You," just shows how far gone her voice is. On the original version of "Both Sides Now," Mitchell wrapped her voice around the word "Canada" and stretched it into describing the whole tortured history of a dysfunctional relationship. On the new version the word is a brusque drop-off, a quick throwaway. The adage says you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but it would be an oversight not to mention the images on both albums. The cover of Mitchell's new album is a self-portrait of the singer, cheek in hand, cigarette between her fingers, a glass of booze in front of her. It's a defiant gesture, but ultimately self-involved and more interesting to the artist than the audience. Smith's new album, for the first time, does not feature a picture of the sinewy singer; instead, there's a wartime photo of Smith's recently deceased father, who, Smith says, was "gung-ho" when he left for World War II. It's a complicated gesture -- Smith is nothing if not a pacifist -- but also a confrontational, challenging and touching one. And that's the difference. salon.com | March 23, 2000 - - - - - - - - - - - - About the writer Seth Mnookin is a senior writer at Brill's Content covering politics, a contributing editor at the Forward and a frequent contributer to Salon. Deb Messling messling@enter.net http://www.enter.net/~messling/ ~there are only three kinds of people: those who can count, and those who can't. Deb Messling messling@enter.net http://www.enter.net/~messling/ ~there are only three kinds of people: those who can count, and those who can't. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 06:58:17 -0500 From: Deb Messling Subject: review from music365 I don't know anything about this review source - it's at http://www.music365.co.uk/autocontent/review_027512.htm Orchestrated standards from the great American songbook given the unique Mitchell makeover Everyone from Bryan Ferry to George Michael seems to be recording albums of old standards these days, but Joni Mitchell's effort is in a class of its own. With a 71 piece orchestra and a 22 piece big band, she covers ten classics from the great American songbook associated with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Mitchell's darkly nicotine-stained voice is perfect for the material, with outstanding renditions of 'At Last', best known in Etta James's version, 'You're My Thrill' and Rodgers and Hart's 'I Wish I Were In Love Again'. She also offers lushly orchestrated reinventions of two of her own songs, 'A Case Of You' and 'Both Sides Now'. Sung in a far lower register than the originals, the former in particular with it's smokily lived-in vocal and evocative arrangement is arguably the album's high point. But being Joni, 'Both Sides Now' is not simply an album of covers. According to producer and ex-husband Larry Klein, the songs are sequenced as a "programmatic suite", so that they document the decline and fall of a relationship from initial flirtation through consummation, disillusionment and despair to resigned acceptance. Talking about the album, Mitchell sounds a pretty reactionary figure these days. "See here? Remember this? This was music," she told Billboard, and went on to complain that the contemporary music scene is full of "these little puff creatures with unbelievably little talent". She also insists that there is no prospect of her writing more material in the foreseeable future, claiming that she now regards herself as "a painter who got side-tracked" (five of her paintings grace the album). Yet while she can still sing like this, few are going to complain. **** Nigel Williamson Wed Mar 22 2000 19:41 GMT Deb Messling messling@enter.net http://www.enter.net/~messling/ ~there are only three kinds of people: those who can count, and those who can't. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 07:00:22 -0500 From: Deb Messling Subject: oops! (no NJC) I just accidentally sent the music365 review to my nephew, Jon (see where the mistake came in?). Some may recall when I accidentally did the reverse, and sent the Joni list an email meant for my nephew!!! Thing is, we are estranged right now, and I have not seen him in over a year. I wonder if this is an opportunity to patch things up! Wish me luck. Deb Messling messling@enter.net http://www.enter.net/~messling/ ~there are only three kinds of people: those who can count, and those who can't. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 07:45:04 EST From: HanknBG@aol.com Subject: BSN In a message dated 03/23/2000 3:03:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, les@jmdl.com writes: << I was however very disappointed in the treatment of the orchestra. To me, it lacked dynamics and was buried way too far in the back of the mix >> Steve, I agree. The orchestra did not have much depth. I just listened to "Miles of Aisles" and was blown away by the mix. I couldn't believe it converted to digital as well as it did. Don't get me wrong..I loved BSN. But I noticed it as well. Chris ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 07:51:51 -0500 From: "cassy" Subject: Joni at Pine Knob - Michigan I just got the following information: Pine Knob Music Amphitheater Joni Mitchell with a 70 piece orchestra Wednesday May 31, 2000 7.30 p.m. $75.00 Gold Circle $55.00 Rest of the Pavillion Tickets go on sale: 3/27/2000 @ 10 A.M. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 08:37:20 -0500 From: waytoblu@mindspring.com Subject: BSN-orchestral accompaniment >Does anyone else hear where I'm coming from on this or am I out on my own? I hear where you're coming from. I've listened to BSN several times and it is starting to grow on me. Upon my first listening I wasn't sure what my reaction was and I'm still not really sure. One thing is, when it comes to orchestral accompaniments, I have preferred to hear the orchestra behind a quartet/quintet or a piano, providing accents and overtones as opposed to providing the whole accompaniment. An album I really like is Elton John, Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. On that album, the orchestra really captures the dynamics of the songs and seems perfectly balanced with Elton's voice and the piano/band accompaniment. I also saw Ray Charles live once with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and it was a similiar experience. On stage he had a quintet with him and the orchestra backed him up. Again, I thought they blended really well. In comparison, you have albums like The Symphonic Music of Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull(A Classic Case), and even the Rolling Stones. While these may be pretty arrangements, I don't think they really capture the dynamics of the songs nearly as well as the originals. With BSN, I think I would have liked them to take a different approach and freed up the orchestra a little bit, perhaps allowed them to play behind piano/bass/drums. Having a good rhythm section behind you makes a world of difference. I put on Ella Fitgerald "Rodgers and Hart songbook" this morning and I think the arranger, Buddy Bregman, did an excellent job of blending everything together. The orchestra is much more up front and involved in the dynamics of the songs and complements the quartet and everything sits perfectly behind Ella's voice. "Most arrangers stamp their own identity in what they write, whatever the tune may be, and it is rare that the true spirit of not only the melody but the lyric is captured. Primarily they complement the vocalist and let it go at that. In this album the rare exception transpires: Buddy Bregman accurately captures not only the soaring Rodgers melodies and the very special Hart lyrics, but the magic of Ella Fitzgerald's interpretation." Norman Granz producer of Rodgers and Hart Songbook I think you hit upon what was bothering me Steve because I had looked so forward to getting this album and when I got home and put it on I did not instantly fall in love with it. Upon some repeated listenings, Joni's voice that I love so much is starting to come through but I feel that there was something blocking that and I think that what you've said has a lot to do with it. Victor http://www.mindspring.com/~waytoblu/Tangled.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 09:34:51 -0500 From: "Ken (Slarty)" Subject: Montreal Gazette BSN Review Printed at the top of the CD review page is a large picture of the cover of BSN ADULT CONTEMPORARY JONI MITCHELL Both Sides Now Warner Music It's fashionable for bored popsters to toss off the odd a1bum of jazz standards. Getting away with it is quite another thing. With Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell adds her name to the list of crossover artists She doesn’t just get away with it, she succeeds spectacularly Of course, Mitchell is no jazzbo-come-lately. Her collaborations with Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius and Charles Mingus in the mid-1970s led to some of her thorniest, most chal lenging music. Both Sides shows another Joni. Here, she offers up 10 standards as well as radical recastings of two of her best-known songs First, the voice. Years of late nights and a two- pack-a-day habit have burnished it to a dark ma- hogany gloss. Her phrasing, too, is dark, filled with pathos and hard-won wisdom. Beginning with You’re My Thrill, she works through the cy- cles of love, from giddy first flush to full blossom- ing, decay and resigned dissolution. She closes with a sad, knowing version of the title track that bears scant resemblance to Its saucer-eyed origi- nal. (Her reworking of A Case of You is slo-o.o-w.) A Mitchell jazz album makes perfect sense. What might surprise fans is that the singer has chosen such safe, dare we say commercial arrangements. Her voice is surrounded by swirling, marshmallow clouds of strings and bat talions of horns. It’s a far cry from the sparse sound we’ve come to expect. A little old, a little new, Both Sides Now is a compromise for those who long for the pop perfection of Blue and Court and Spark but realize Mitchell has moved on. **** Mary Lamey ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 10:00:08 EST From: AsharaJM@aol.com Subject: Saskatoon Mendel Opening Kate from the North said: <> I just decided yesterday that I definitely want to be at this opening. I have never met Joni before, and probably would be too shy to say anything. (ASHARA.....SHY????????????) But I know I want to be there. So...I am wondering who else is planning on being there as well. Hugs, Ashara www.photon.net/lightnet ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 09:10:34 -0700 From: Bounced Message Subject: Reference: Have Yourself a Dreary Little Christmas From: "Patrick Lazzarotto" Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 09:42:12 -0500 The reference to "Have Yourself a Dreary Little Christmas" is a spin on Diana Krall's X-mas EP release of 1998, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Larry Klein and Diana Krall were dating for a couple of recent months which may have prompted this little dig. Patrick ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 08:29:16 -0800 From: Phyliss Ward Subject: Re: Reference: Have Yourself a Dreary Little Christmas Actually, I've hear this before, much earlier. She actually sings it on PWWAM, or somewhere else...??? Of course this doesn't mean that Diana's ablum didn't give her the idea... Patrick wrote: > The reference to "Have Yourself a Dreary Little Christmas" is a spin on > Diana Krall's X-mas EP release of 1998, "Have Yourself a Merry Little > Christmas". Larry Klein and Diana Krall were dating for a couple of > recent months which may have prompted this little dig. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 09:27:00 -0700 From: zapuppy2@webtv.net (Penny) (by way of Les Irvin ) Subject: What's goin on at TNT? Don wrote: <> Here's the best full description of the tribute and their "Master's Series" I've found so far. Some pretty glowing words for Joan. Company Press Release Shawn Colvin, Elton John, Wynonna Judd, Chaka Khan, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Richard Thompson and Cassandra Wilson Among Artist Line-Up Scheduled to Salute Folk-Pop Legend in AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL Airing Sunday, April 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TNT Ashley Judd to Host NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 22, 2000-- Turner Network Television (TNT) continues its TNT Masters Series with a tribute concert event celebrating the music of folk-pop legend Joni Mitchell. Highlights from her body of work will be performed by some of the most celebrated names in contemporary music, including Shawn Colvin, Elton John, Wynonna Judd, Chaka Kahn, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Richard Thompson, Cassandra Wilson, among others. Special guest and additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks. Mitchell will also perform. AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL will tape on Thursday, April 6, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Ashley Judd will host AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL, which is scheduled to air on Sunday, April 16, at 9:00p.m. ET/PT. The TNT Masters Series showcases individuals whose contributions have had a profound influence on contemporary culture. TNT launched its Masters Series in 1998 with Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night and followed with An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash in spring 1999, which garnered an Emmy® nomination. One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute premiered in December 1999. ``Joni Mitchell is an artistic visionary whose contributions to music and culture reflect the essence of the TNT Masters Series,´´ said Bradley J. Siegel, president of general entertainment networks, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. ``Celebrating her music with performers who have all been influenced by her work will make for an unforgettable evening.´´ ``We see this television special as a gift to an outstanding artist for an inspiring career that spans more than 30 years,´´ said Jeb Brien, executive producer of the special. ``The TNT Masters Series is the ideal vehicle for such a tribute.´´ Mitchell's groundbreaking style has made her an artistic legend. An innovator in folk, jazz, pop, avant-garde and world music, Mitchell is a four-time Grammy® Award winner and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Her Miles of Aisles (1974, #2), The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975, #4), Hejira (1976, #13), and Court and Spark (1974, #2) are considered among the most influential and important albums of the rock era. Some of her many classic hits include ``Big Yellow Taxi,´´ ``Free Man In Paris,'' ``Help Me,´´ ``Both Sides Now,´´ and ``Woodstock.´´ Both Sides Now, her latest album, is scheduled for release on March 21 on Reprise Records. A passionate song cycle about love in all of its manifestations, Both Sides Now features sultry, dramatic renditions of 12 love songs from the 1920s to the present. AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL will be produced for TNT by Automatic Productions. Jeb Brien is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director. Monica Hardiman is producer, and Ali Gifford is talent producer. Larry Klein is the musical director. Sandy Shapiro is executive producer for TNT. Jodi Hurwitz is executive producer for Automatic Productions. Automatic Productions is a television production, distribution and packaging company headquartered in New York City. It has a diverse slate of music variety series and specials, and is a leading supplier of entertainment programming for network, cable and broadcast syndication. Recent projects include A&E's Emmy and CableACE Award-winning series Live By Request; the critically acclaimed weekly television music series Sessions at West 54th; TNT's An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash and Britney Spears In Concert for the Disney Channel. Turner Network Television, currently seen in 77.1 million homes, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s 24-hour, advertiser-supported service offering original motion pictures and miniseries; original series, non-fiction specials and live events; contemporary films from the world's largest film library, the combined Turner and Warner Bros. Film libraries; exciting NBA sports action; exclusive coverage of both the 2000 Winter and 2001 Summer Goodwill Games; and popular television series. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grace dies when it becomes us verses them......Philip Yancey ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 11:39:21 -0500 From: "steve julty" Subject: Internet telephony (NJC) I've discovered some no-cost communications offerings on the internet & when I read the threads on the costs of telephone calls, I thought it was appropriate to share my findings. Both of These solutions require 1) full duplex sound cards, 2) computer speakers 3) microphone or a headset w/ mic. The first of my findings is "Firetalk" www.firetalk.com With this software loaded, you can talk to anyone else anywhere in the world - for free!!! you simply go to their site, download the software & tell all of your friends to do the same. Communication is limited to whoever else has the software loaded. The second one is "Dialpad" www.dialpad.com Dialpad does not require a software download. After you register, you simply log onto their website and up pops a "virtual telephone keypad" which you can use to call any telephone in the U.S. - for free. Both of these systems are not perfect and the sound quality could be better but I have greatly reduced my long distance phone bill by using these services. I can only imagine what the phone companies are dreaming up to thwart their use. In the meanwhile, we have free unlimited voice communications at our disposal (The phone phreaks of the 60's would be proud) stevephoto@mindspring.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 08:45:17 -0800 (PST) From: Don Rowe Subject: Re: Reference: Have Yourself a Dreary Little Christmas > The reference to "Have Yourself a Dreary Little > Christmas" is a spin on > Diana Krall's X-mas EP release of 1998, "Have > Yourself a Merry Little > Christmas". Larry Klein and Diana Krall were dating > for a couple of > recent months which may have prompted this little > dig. > > Patrick > I'm more inclined to think it's not nearly as mean-spirited ... especially seeing how close Larry and Joni still are. I think the joke is on the original song title from the musical "Meet Me In St. Louis" and immortalized by Judy Garland in the movie version. Don Rowe ===== "I want a stillness inside, and a quiet of mind, and to stop dreaming of the comfort of strangers." -- Julia Fordham __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 12:32:36 -0500 From: Janene Otten Subject: Hey, now, what's that sound? Hi, all. In response to Steve Julty's message about the orchestra not carrying over into the mix, I should say that I have now been "living" with these songs for four days but the first day I listened, I do remember thinking that the orchestra was mixed in an almost sappy manner. What I mean is that there are some nice accompanying string arrangements underneath and then, at the instrumental breaks between verses, the orchestra suddenly swells. I admit, I did chuckle at this. Even though my mother was barely a glimmer in my grandparent's eyes when some of these were written, I believe that this was the style of arrangement at the time but it would have been nice to hear more intermingling between the orchestra and the principal players. Also, Mark Isham is once again completely underutilized and I thought that the horn solos could definitely have been jazzed up. JMHO... Janene np: Satana III - "Gumbo" > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 13:41:19 -0500 (EST) From: kb420@webtv.net (gr8fuldave) Subject: Philly/Camden on sale Monday Tickets for Joni's June 2 closing show at the E-center in Camden, NJ go on sale this Monday through Ticketmaster. Not sure what time. They are $75 and $45 reserved. I guess that means no lawn tickets. Have I actually posted a scoop, or did Ctgirl beat me to it? :) gdave NP: Grateful Dead & Friends 3/23/75 Kezar Stadium,San Francisco ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 12:46:14 -0500 (EST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: BSN (at last!) I finally got BSN - headed out to various stores Tuesday and finally found it at HMV. What can I say? I am blowed away! My first listen was Tuesday night. Everyone was in bed but me, so I slapped the headphones on and took up my position on the sofa with the lights turned down low, several cats perched close by, wondering when I was going to head off to bed. I probably could have picked a better time to listen to it, because I was in a melancholy mood that night. I was bawling like a baby through most of it, but laughing and saying "Way to go, Joni" on a couple of numbers. My personal favourites at this time are Joni's own compositions, which bodes well for the proposed future release of orchestral versions of her own stuff. How anyone can say her voice is awful is beyond me. Yes, this is an older woman singing from experience, and that lends it credence and beauty - 25 or 30 years on, she's looking back at her life and she's older and wiser. Christina Aguilera could NOT sing this way. I'm giving it a second listen now - I had to give myself a couple of days before going at it again. Thankfully, when the sun is up, I'm generally a happier person, so I can be more objective. And I still love it, and it's still, "Way to go, Joni" - God, I love this woman! NP A case of you (every hair on my body is standing up and the tears are starting to well up - gotta go! I'm still ===== Catherine (in Toronto) catrin_of_aragon@yahoo.ca _______________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.ca address at http://mail.yahoo.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 13:14:48 -0500 (EST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Renee as Bridget - NJC - --- "Helen M. Adcock" wrote: > Catherine wrote: > > >You're going to have to translate "stone" for me - > >either into pounds or kilos - I have no idea what a > >"stone" is apart from something in my garden! > > A stone is 14 pounds, therefore, 9 1/2 stone is > about 133 pounds (sorry)! That's so complicated! We're "officially" metric here, but I have an easier time understanding weight in pounds than in kilos, although I am used to temperatures in the Celsius scale now - you have to be careful when you tell an American that it's 30 and it's too damn hot! > > >No offense to the yanks, > >but they have plenty of their own wonderful > neurotic > >creatures that could be immortalized in film > without > >having to steal them from the Brits they way they > >stole Winnie the Pooh!) > > I agree entirely! They're nothing like the original > Winnie-the-Pooh, and > Piglet and Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, and my personal > favourite, Tigger! The same > way that "Three's Company" is not "Man About The > House" (which was actually > funny in a way that "Three's Company" WASN'T)! Actually, until I actually SAW a Winnie the Pooh cartoon, I hated the idea, but I think they've done a good job translating him into Americanese, even though, when, as a kid, you've read the AA Milne versions with the Ernest Sheppard illustrations, it's hard to get used to the Disney/Sears version! You have to think of them as totally different animals who just happen to have the same names. > Another piece of trivia I read in a gossip mag today > (I only bought it for > the crossword, honestly!). "Renee Zellweger is > working on a British accent > for an upcoming movie", so it looks like she's the > one! Sorry, but I still > say she's totally inappropriate! Why do they have to coach them on accents when there are plenty of people who can already do that? Why did they get Kate Winslett to talk like an American in Titanic? Oh merde, why ask? NP Both Sides Now (the "adult" version, BSN) ===== Catherine (in Toronto) catrin_of_aragon@yahoo.ca _______________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.ca address at http://mail.yahoo.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 13:08:37 -0500 (EST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: pay phones njc Wow, I thought it cost the same in the whole country - or maybe it HAS gone up here in Ontario too, but I just haven't been near a phone booth recently (even to change into my Superwoman costume!) (Our gas has likewise gone up the same as yours - I used to put $20 in each time, now it's $25, and not a pay increase in sight for me either!) - --- evian wrote: > Catherine, commenting on us old farts, noted: > > > Somehow "It's your quarter" just > > doesn't sound right (it cost 25 cents here in > Canada, > > I don't know about the US these days, but it has > been > > 25 for a while, so it'll probably be 50 cents or a > > dollar before long, if they'll even accept money > anymore!) > > > > > Well, last summer when I was in Edmonton, I tried to > use a pay phone, > and that automated operator bitch kept telling me to > deposit more money, > and I kept yelling back at the recording "I've > already put in my > quarter, what more do you want?" Then, I read the > little sign thingy, > and sure enough, Alberta charges 35 cents at > payphones. ===== Catherine (in Toronto) catrin_of_aragon@yahoo.ca _______________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.ca address at http://mail.yahoo.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 15:02:34 -0500 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: Gaaas-lighting Abbey NJC NJC: 100% Steely Dan Content Don Rowe wrote about the new Steely Dan which has some JC because Joni loves this music and chose Steely Dan among her "Top 12" on the BBC. Here's a reply to Don's post: I liked your post about Gaslighting Abbey. Walter and Donald said somewhere (the PBS special?) that it comes from an old movie called "Gaslight". I like the way you started out with "Now 'fess up -- " LOL! I _have_ been wondering about that. I love the new album. My only gripe is the multi-tracked lead vocals. IMO Fagen is one of the most easily recognizable voices in Rock and is strong enough to stand on its own, unlike, say, Cheryl Crow. Maybe they were trying to downplay the cynical label that his unvarnished voice gets labeled with. If that's true, I have to admit that the multi-tracking or whatever it is, does further the love song aspect. The twisted parts of the song make the new songs sorta schizophrenic though. In the past, the flaws and whining cynicism in Donald's voice underscored their twisted nature. On the new album, the vocal sweetener makes "Janie Runaway", my favorite, seem more like a real love song. The lyrical punchlines stand alone now in their cynicism. To me this is the most important new flavor. All the best, Jim L'Hommedieu near Cincinnati ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 16:09:01 -0600 From: "Michael Paz" Subject: Address change Hello Eveyone- The list for jonifest2000 New Orleans has been changed to jonifest2000neworleans@egroups.com . If you were subscribed to the joni2000 list you post as this new address. I have signed up everyone that was on that list already. Please discontinue using this jmdl address effective today. thanks Michael ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2000 #151 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list at Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe joni-digest" to ------- Siquomb, isn't she?