From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2012 #786 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe:mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website:http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Monday, May 28 2012 Volume 2012 : Number 786 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: People's Parties / Same Situation ["Mark" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 27 May 2012 23:55:02 -0700 From: "Mark" Subject: Re: People's Parties / Same Situation Robin, Tonight I FINALLY sat down in front of my tv (with all the lights turned off, not left up bright) and watched my dvd copy of Robin Adler & Mutts of the Planet performing Joni Mitchell's Blue & Court and Spark. I'm sorry it's taken me so long. I know this is late in coming but first of all I want to say to anybody reading this, if you haven't bought a copy of this dvd, go to http://robinadler.com/products.html and buy one. But two. Buy one for all of your friends. If you love the music of Joni Mitchell, this is a must-have. This group of musicians is so tight and so talented. They nailed every single song to the wall and then some in these performances. And Robin, you are nothing short of brilliant. The arrangements for the song cycle known as 'Court and Spark' are so spot-on that the ensemble succeeds with what Robin states as their mission 'to stay as close the original arrangements as possible so that the audience members could relive, if you will, how they felt when they first heard these songs'. The one song that stood out as an exception to this rule is from the 'Blue' set and that was 'River'. If you're waiting for 'Jingle Bells', I don't think you'll hear it at any point of this rendition. But I assure you, you will not miss it. 'Mutts of the Planet' weave such a beautiful and delicate setting for the song that it more than exceeds any expectations a listener could possibly bring to it. And Robin breaks your heart with her vocal. But then she does just that again and again throughout the show. And Dave, your playing is flawless. Every player and singer that performed that night was flawless. The vocal ensemble of Peggy Watson, Barry Cahill and Dave Blackburn point up just how important those vocal harmonies and embellishments are in the sound fabric of Joni's music, especially on the 'Court and Spark' album. Their contribution was essential to the jaw-dropping perfection the group achieved performing 'Car on a Hill'. Barnaby Finch's playing can only be described as virtuoso. One thing I wish I could have seen in the dvd was his fingers dancing over those keys. Dave Curtis seems perfectly capable of reproducing the orchestra for 'Paprika Plains' as Robin half-jokingly says. Barry Cahill displays versatility and excellence with all of the delicate, swinging and rocking woodwind instrumentation he adds. Danny Campbell ably plays the crucial role of keeping everything moving through all of those tricky time signature shifts in Joni Mitchell's music with his stellar performances on the drums. And Max Bennett seems like some guru sitting in the background and blessing the proceedings with the bass lines he himself played on Joni's own 'Court and Spark' sessions. The production of this dvd is of the highest quality. The video is expertly filmed and edited. And Dave did his usual exemplary job with the sound. Every note from every musician is clear and perfectly mixed. This is a professional job. It looks and sounds spectacular. Again, I wish I would have watched this sooner than I did. All I can offer as an excuse is that there were circumstances that were by no means insignificant that intervened. However, I can now say that things have settled down and life is nearly back to normal again. One difference in my life is a kind of re-discovered appreciation and gratitude for the things that make it worth living. Exceptionally good music is surely one of those things. Thank you Robin, Dave and all of the Mutts for providing me with a nice slice of that. I hope you will provide a similar way to experience your 'Hissing of Summer Lawns' and 'Hejira' performances. Mark in Seattle - -----Original Message----- From: Robin Adler Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 7:25 PM To: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Cc: Dave Blackburn ; joni@smoe.org LIST Subject: Re: People's Parties / Same Situation Hi Bob, I've tried so many times to sit down and write to the list about performing the albums of Blue and Court and Spark. Anita had posed some questions shortly after the release of our DVD about my experience and I was in the midst of a major post-partum funk following the concert asking myself "is that all there is?" I just could not complete the post. It was one of the most profound and humbling musical experiences of my career. I knew these albums were great but having experienced them on a physical and emotional level I was totally blown away by their brilliance. Nothing about Joni's music is easy if you want to do them justice. Nothing is more interesting, beautiful, challenging, stimulating etc. than her songs. I could be happy the rest of my musical life just performing her songs - they effect me so much. Unfortunately it is also probably why I will never write songs of my own. How could I? We chose, for this concert, . For us as a band that was exciting. To emulate Car on a Hill, Down to You and Trouble Child was a great accomplishment. Our drummer Danny Campbell bought special drum heads to get the John Guerin sound. Our multi talented Dave Curtis played those incredible harmonic guitar parts on Trouble Child to simulate the waves breaking at Malibu. He also played most of the orchestrated parts in Down to You. Dave Blackburn (my hubby) borrowed a 12 string guitar for People's Parties to add to the quiver of other guitars he used. For my part I was laser-focused, for about 3 months solid, on memorizing, practicing and trying to get inside each tune. I watched my diet and did yoga every day, and oh, did I mention practice? I wonder how much Joni had to prepare for those sessions, but then again she wasn't 59 years old when she made those records. It takes a bit more prep the older you get. On the night of the concert I was ready, and from the start of All I Want to the last line of Twisted it was like a magic carpet ride. The time and practice paid off. My voice came through for me and hit those notes meant only for the young. I floated in the clouds for about a week following the concert- then looking down on everything I crashed into the ground. The continents in my mind shifted, and without exaggeration I have to say that I've changed. I can't tell you honestly if it's for the better; all I can say is that I haven't returned to how I was. Everything seemed so perfectly aligned when I was preparing for the concert, and now it's not. So, Bob this post isn't specifically about PP and SS. I love them both and was happy I was able to make the tricky segue between those two songs (three 5/4 bars and one 4/4 - oh that Joni!) All I can say is that I just can relate to them. How about you? Love, Robin P.S. As we speak I am preparing for a concert in June. The Mutts will be performing most of Hissing and Hejira and "I'm diggin' it like an old soul record". I'm bracing for another tectonic shift. On May 23, 2012, at 11:34 AM, Bob.Muller@Fluor.com wrote: > Thanks for mentioning that, Dave - I have neglected to post those songs in > my database (note to self) and should have acknowledged that The Mutts did > exactly that. I don't think anyone out there respects her catalog the way > that ya'll do. > > I'd love to hear Robin's thoughts on performing these songs. (hint, hint) > > Bob > > NP: Fleet Foxes, "Lorelai" > ------------------------------------------------------------ > The information transmitted is intended only for the person > or entity to which it is addressed and may contain > proprietary, business-confidential and/or privileged material. > If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are > hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, > distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon > this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please > contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. > > Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual > sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of the company. > ------------------------------------------------------------ thanks, Robin - ------------------------------------------------- New CD available now! "Safaris to the Heart: The Songs of Joni Mitchell" by Robin Adler & Mutts of the Planet. To listen or learn more: http://www.reverbnation.com/robinadlermuttsoftheplanet To purchase: http://www.robinadler.com/products.html ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2012 #786 ***************************** ------- To post messages to the list, send tojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------