From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2007 #457 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Archives: http://www.smoe.org/lists/onlyjoni Websites: http://www.jmdl.com http://www.jonimitchell.com Unsubscribe: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe onlyJMDL Digest Tuesday, February 12 2008 Volume 2007 : Number 457 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Unbelievable! (spoiler) ["Randy Remote" ] Re: Grammys [Mark-Leon Thorne ] Re: Grammys [FMYFL@aol.com] Re: more of The Grammy Awards (yes!!!! Joni content!!!!) [Jerry Notaro ] Re: Grammys [Jerry Notaro ] Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell !!! [Patti Parlette ] Re: Grammys [Monika Bogdanowicz ] Re: Grammy [ajfashion@att.net] Happy birthday ["Marion Leffler" ] Portent? [frednow@aol.com] re: grammys ["joe farrell" ] my take on herbie's big win. [rza666odb@aol.com] River ["Laurent Olszer" ] New Orleans Musicians Housing [PassScribe@aol.com] Grammy Awards 2008, the whole list ["Jim L'Hommedieu" ] RE: River ["Rob Argento" ] Joni and Herbie each win a Grammy! [Sherelle Smith ] Re: more of The Grammy Awards (yes!!!! Joni content!!!!) [Eric Taylor ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:55:10 -0800 From: "Randy Remote" Subject: Unbelievable! (spoiler) Album of the Year for Herbie--beating out Kanye, Amy Winehouse, Foos.....how freakin' cool is that-I didn't even recognize Larry Klein at first behind HH Also a wonderful performance of Rhapsody in Blue from Herbie and that other dude...great singing from Amy Winehouse...Ringo and Sir George Martin...Aretha, Brad Paisley, Alicia Keys with Frank Sinatra...glad to see them spotlighting some fine performances. And, to quote Herbie Hancock: "Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell" RR ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:16:27 +1100 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: Grammys A heartfelt congratulations to Herbie Hancock and to Joni for OWLS and her inspiration to Herbie. It surely must be a Grammy upset. A very odd choice for Album of The year. Odd but smart. Are we finally waking up to quality in popular music? Herbie's, This album is truly amazing. I have been playing it almost every day and still not sick of any of it. I was cynical at first because of the abstract arrangements of Joni's songs but now it has grown to be a warm friend. River deserves to snowball around the world. Next, Best Foreign Album at the ARIA's? Mark in Sydney ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:16:19 EST From: FMYFL@aol.com Subject: Re: Grammys > YAY! Congratulations to Joni on her sixth Grammy! And Herbie!! This was > the > best Grammy show I can remember. You are soooooo right Kakki! This was one of the best Grammy shows I can remember, and congratulations to Joni and Herbie. Aside from them winning, the entire show was fantastic starting with the beautiful Alicia Keys singing with footage of Frank Sinatra. I was blown away by Herbie and Lang Lang doing "Rhapsody in Blue". The Cirque du Soleil's "Love" was astounding. I grew up listening to Keely Smith, and she was amazing with Kid Rock. Tina Turner still looks great. The Foofighters rocked!!! My favorite was Vince Gill's little jab to Kayne West when he said "I just got an award presented to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?" I'm not a fan of West as you can tell. What a great evening! Now I can't wait to see what the brilliant Randy Remote thought of the show :) Jimmy ************** Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp003000000025 48) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:42:38 -0500 From: Jerry Notaro Subject: Re: more of The Grammy Awards (yes!!!! Joni content!!!!) You blew it Joni. You should have been there. It was your hour to Shine. Jerry NL: River: The Joni Letters playing on WMNF > I wrote: > >> Herbie's album is still in contention for Album Of The Year >> (Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording >> Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the >> artist) >> but it will still be a couple of hours before that award is >> announced. > > AND IT WON ALBUM OF THE YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > Again, mazel tov to Herbie, Joni, and everyone who took part in this > wonderful album > > Brian > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > Politicians and diapers both need to be changed often. > And usually for the same reasons. > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > > > ______________________________________________________________________________ > ______ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:48:52 -0500 From: Jerry Notaro Subject: Re: Grammys I couldn't agree more, Kakki. The best Grammys in years, even with all the drama. Alicia Keys was amazing. Keely Smith was pure class next to that jerk, Kid Rock. Tina rocked!!! And what a Rhapsody In Blue. And then they saved the best for last. Kanye lost!!!! Jerry NL: If - on WMNF > YAY! Congratulations to Joni on her sixth Grammy! And Herbie!! This was the > best Grammy show I can remember. Virtually, every win in each category was > the most well-deserved. I was in awe all night. It's like the music angels > and the stars finally aligned perfectly. After Joni telling the biz off all > these years it seems like someone(s) may finally be listening! ;-) > > Geez, and Tina Turner may well become a living ad for the benefits of > Buddhism! The lady is 69 years old! How can she look and dance like that? > Loved the surprises like Kid Rock and Keely Smith in a jazz duet and > especially Herbie rhapsodizing in blue. Amy Winehouse was astounding. Wow, > real music lives and shined just brilliantly tonight. > > Kakki ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:51:27 -0500 From: Jerry Notaro Subject: Re: Grammys I just called WMNF to remind the DJ that Joni did win a Grammy last night after he had announced she hadn't won one herself in a long while. Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:18:57 +0000 From: Patti Parlette Subject: Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell !!! What a Chelsea Morning! Woke up and had to pinch myself, saying: "Do you think this can be real?" "Was this just a dream some of us had?" "Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, thank you so much!' Herbie speaks for us! I screamed when I heard that and scared the dog. I wanted to write last night but dared not, thinking that the lines would be overloaded on the JMDL and we'd blow a fuse or something with all the woooooo hooooooos and the site would crash. Crash into me! Then I had the urge for going out scrambling down in the streets to do the Madwoman of Mansfield schtick, running around the neighborhood in my nightgown yelling: "Joni, Joni, Joni!", but it was way too cold out. But I did dream about her. I was caught in a crowd running around telling people. My Mom and Dad were even there! This is so wonderful. Her name's in the news, everything's FIRST CLASS. And please tell me, did Herbie really say "Yes, we can!" or did I dream that? High fives and hugs all across the Joni universe, Patti P., who can't wait to go to work and put on THIS day (LOL....I can just see all the office doors closing as I walk down the hallway....they know I'll be in rare form today....when they come for conversation, they'll know what they'll find: Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell! _________________________________________________________________ Need to know the score, the latest news, or you need your Hotmail.-get your "fix". http://www.msnmobilefix.com/Default.aspx ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:52:54 -0500 From: Bob.Muller@Fluor.com Subject: Congrats to Joni & Herbie Very cool news - Joni Covers win a Grammy for album of the year! I have some exciting volumes coming up this year, maybe I'll enter them in the contest. Maybe Grammy needs a new category! While Herbie's win was a big surprise, her absence was not. I called that one correctly. Bob NP: XTC, "Then She Appeared" - ------------------------------------------------------------ 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. - ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:41:46 EST From: PassScribe@aol.com Subject: Re: Grammys Joni & Herbie and the Grammys... All I can say is... WOW! well, no... I can say that I loved :One Week Last Summer" the moment I first played the album. Too bad "If I Had A Heart" didn't win something as that's my other fave off Shine. Kenny B ************** Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002548) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:10:09 +0100 (CET) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: Grammy Like the rest of you I watched the Grammys until the end and my mouth was agape with unexpected joy when Herbie's name was announced as the Album of the Year winner. Looking dapper and nobly sophisticated, I loved the way he shook off his disbelief by paying tribute to Joni by repeating her name three times (I thought he actually said it 4 times but I was drunk) and thanking the artists involved and went back to rhapsodizing about Joni. Loved that moment when the paper he was searching in his pocket fell off, and Quincy Jones and one other were attempting to retrieve it from the floor for him. Great to see Luciana Souza in the audience and radiant over Herbie's win. Also it was sweet to have Corinne Bailey Rae's vocals draping the soundstage when Herbie went up the stage to claim his prize, and as a way to wrap up the show. That and Herbie's album (with Joni's name) emblazoned in lights in the hall. Joni should have been there. I can imagine her and Herbie linking arms while Herbie raises the Grammy and a smiling Joni waving. Now I am sure the sales for this album will dramatically rise, and by extension, maybe a lot of people will re-discover Joni and get her earlier stuff. Are we seeing more Joni covers in the next few years? Someone asked (AJ?) when't the last time a jazz album won and after a quick search in the Grammy website, it said that Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass won Album of the Year in 1965. But one can also argue that Sinatra's "Come Dance With Me" album which won Album of the Year in 1959 is also a jazz album. But I guess Herbie was referring to an jazz instrumental album winning big. Nice moments in the show: Lang Lang's duet with Herbie in Gershwin's abridged "Rhapsody in Blue". Their distinctive and unique personalities clashed and cohered in exciting ways. Was actually touched when the unbelieving Amy Winehouse reacted to her win. She retreated obviously overcome with emotion amidst group hugs from musicians, And her proud mother on her side. It was refreshingly direct and poignant. This higely talented woman is officially a household name, if she isn't yet with her life in daily tabloids. Thought Vince Gill was very gracious and an object lesson in graceful simplicity. Loved that gospel number with Aretha and the rest, but it got too busy on the stage after a while. The Clark Sisters were amazing. And those Foo Fighter dudes are a joy to watch. will.i.am's number deserved applause although I don't think many got into his nice juxtapositions of rap/hiphop and jazz standard singing. Carole King is beautiful and the combined presence of Dave Stewart and Ringo Starr added needed wattage to the event even if it didn't generate as much excitement. But wasn't Feist's number movingly stark and sublime? With just her and her guitar and crooning in that unmistakable and quivering alto, she was mesmerizing. Loved the horn part accentuating her number -- so fitting and so apt to her song. I have to admit I saw shades of Madonna (!!) and Cat Power in her looks that night. May she conquer greater heights in subsequent Grammy ceremonies. Other wins: Didn't really care much for Brad Paisley or Carrie Underwood or Daughtry (oops, I mean DAUGHTRY) or Kanye or Rhiana (although I love her shout to Trinidad). Not a huge fan of Alicia Keys either but everyone loves her so I must not be seeing the same things. Keely Smith! Keely Smith! Not even Kid Rock can shake this singer's zing! I will be playing me some Joni and Herbie and selected others in the station tomorrow! Heart, Joseph np: George Shearing - The Best Thing For You ajfashion@att.net a icrit : Hancock winning Album of the Year has got to be the biggest upset in Grammy history. My jaw dropped in joy and awe. Utterly amazing. BTW what was the jazz album that won 43 years ago? --AJ< temporarily and rather surprised to be a little in love with Vince Gill for taking the utterly insufferable (tonight) Kanye down so elegantly and adroitly - --------------------------------- Ne gardez plus qu'une seule adresse mail ! Copiez vos mails vers Yahoo! Mail ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:14:23 -0800 (PST) From: Monika Bogdanowicz Subject: Re: Grammys Hmm, well I missed the awards show. In fact, I didn't even know it was on! The only way I would have watched is if Joni said, "I will be there." Of course she didn't say anything so I didn't have much hope for her to show up. Well it is nice for Joni's Shine to get some recognition, hence giving Joni more recognition. It is also nice that Herbie got his dues as well. That gives him (and Joni again) some well deserved credit. Perhaps, just perhaps, this will inspire some who didn't know these albums existed or who didn't give them much thought to buy the albums and float downstream (turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream). Not to burst anyone's bubble or be the one to stomp on everyone's excitement, as much as it is nice that these Grammys were won, I wish it were more of an honor. You see Joni winning Grammys....Herbie winning Grammys....that is credible but then when you see *certain others* (I won't name names of the untalented but popular performers) win them, it almost takes away its significance. Does anybody know what I mean? The value of a Grammy goes down.... -Monika - --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:18:39 +0000 From: ajfashion@att.net Subject: Re: Grammy - -------------- Original message from Joseph Palis : -------------- > > Someone asked (AJ?) when't the last time a jazz album won and after a quick > search in the Grammy website, it said that Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass won > Album of the Year in 1965. But one can also argue that Sinatra's "Come Dance > With Me" album which won Album of the Year in 1959 is also a jazz album. But I > guess Herbie was referring to an jazz instrumental album winning big. I found the answer to this somewhere last night on the internet: it was Getz/Gilberto (which, being one of my favorite records of all time, made me very happy). - --AJ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:38:17 +0100 From: "Marion Leffler" Subject: Happy birthday Hi Patti, you always make us smile, now even despite your still ongoing grief! Thanks for the vivid account of your birthday! And what a present! I'm happy for you - not just for the Joni art but for having such a loving family. And I wish you all the best for the next year of your life. May you have sunny days, looking for laughter and finding it there! Love, Marion ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:20:12 -0500 From: frednow@aol.com Subject: Portent? Not that I really believe in signs or omens, but it seems to me that if Herbie Hancock can win The Grammy for Best Album of the Year with a jazz album of Joni Mitchell songs, Obama can certainly be the next president of the USA. Right on! (By the way, the jazz album that won Best Album of the Year 43 years ago was Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto's "Getz/Gilberto.") All best, Fred - -Fred Simon http://myspace.com/fredsimon ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:28:59 +0000 From: "joe farrell" Subject: re: grammys Congratulations to Joni on her Grammy win. One Week Last Summer is a lovely track and the award is totally deserved. Herbie too, a great album and a fitting tribute to Joni's music. Regards, Joe. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:38:30 -0500 From: rza666odb@aol.com Subject: my take on herbie's big win. first of all, i'd like to say that this is my first time posting a message to this list. i have skimmed through most of the messages on this list for the past 2 years or so, but i've never written in before because i just don't have the time. i choose to put my two cents in now though?because i seem to be the only one who disagrees with?what everyone is saying in this?flood of messages regarding the grammys. do you all really feel that herbie's album deserved the grammy for album of the year over the other nominees?! i feel that maybe i look at this in a different way because i'm probably one of the youngest members of this discussion list, but i wonder how many of you have actually listened to the other albums nominated in the album of the year category? do you actually own amy's back to black or kanye's graduation (vince gill and foo fighters should not have been in this category by the way), or do you only own the joni letters? what i'm saying is, do you agree with the joni letters winning the big prize because it's a joni-related album, or do you really feel?that it is better than back to black and graduation? none of the 5 nominated albums in the category were my number 1 favorite album of '07, but if i had to pick out of the five, back to black is easily the best with graduation coming in second. in my opinion, these two albums are 10x better than the joni letters. mark ronson's production on?back to black?is incredible (which is why he won for producer of the year) and amy's voice is amazing. and say what you will about kanye, i hate the guy's personality just as much as you do. i find him to be conceited, vain, spoiled, and pompous that it can be nauseating sometimes, but c'mon, the man makes quality music. graduation is further proof that not only is he a really good rapper, but that he's also a?skilled producer. the album of the year award should go to the deserving album and not to who you think is the nicest person. i don't want this to be an attack on the joni letters. i'm not saying it's a bad album or anything like that. i enjoyed it for what it was, a nice little tribute/covers album,?but that's all it is. a tribute/covers album should not win for album of the year, no matter how much you love the person being paid tribute to. with that said, i am not angry about herbie's big win. i agree with you all that this can be seen as a victory for joni and that this win is a nice way of getting her name out there again, which is a good thing. but i don't think that the album should've been in that category in the first place. let's be honest, the only reason that it was nominated for album of the year is because the grammys want to make sure that they include?an album from 5 different genres to please everybody. so yeah, hooray for joni, but boo to the grammys. overall though, this year's grammys was an amazing show from beginning to end, and i enjoyed watching every second of it. matt ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:15:39 +0100 From: "Laurent Olszer" Subject: River It just so happened i listened to River recently for the 1st time. I didn't read the digests at the time as i didn't want to spoil the fun of discovery. Of course i'm very happy if this grammy brings about a wider exposure to Joni's work. But i have to admit i'm missing the point of this album. What i mean is when i listen to many Joni's covers (thanks Bob) i can understand the contribution made by the artist to the original song. However i don't get that feeling with Herbie's River. It sounds like an exercise in style, almost like a < Joni made easy >, smooth jazz version. In other words, i see what Herbie removed and i don't see what he added. What am i missing ? Laurent ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:12:29 EST From: PassScribe@aol.com Subject: New Orleans Musicians Housing I'm not adding a NJC to this 'cause I thought most of you might like to know about it (if you don't already). As most of you are aware, fellow JMDLister, Paz, has been involved for some time helping with the musicians of New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina. Now, the latest series on "This Old House" (on PBS television) has a duel theme: helping a woman rebuild her house in New Orleans and following the construction of a "musicians village" of homes primarily intended for those musicians who lost their homes during the hurricane. It's been very interesting and I've seen one imprromptu but impressive performance by a few of the locals on the porch of a new house already. You may want to check this series out on your local stations. I don't know if you can catch the previous episodes- maybe by going online? Kenny B ************** The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Go to AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:19:30 -0500 From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" Subject: Grammy Awards 2008, the whole list http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/50th_show/list.aspx Jim L'Hommedieu ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:12:16 -0800 From: "Randy Remote" Subject: Re: OMG > BTW what was the jazz album that won 43 years ago? > > --AJ Yes, it was Getz/Gilberto for album of the year, and "Ipanema" from that album won record of the year, new artist of the year was The Beatles (1965). ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:58:42 -0500 From: "Rob Argento" Subject: RE: River I suppose it is quite a temptation and quite natural to compare a cover with the original. Here we are talking about music and poetry - but it seems like this is pretty common in all sorts of "versions" - be it artistic style, architecture, computer programs, ice cream or whatever - We seem always to have a tendency to be (excuse the language) Conservative. It seems it is often first when new version of just about anything is issued, it is first then that people really show appreciation of the original. This may very well NOT mirror the actual attributes of the newer version but merely what we are used to. This same thing happened when Joni explored new styles. First she wasn't a "folkie" any more. Later on many refused to see the point with the Mingus album. The previous style - "version" of Joni if you will - was embedded in our psyche of what JMs music SHOULD be and some found it difficult to accept the new version. Now with Joni Mitchell, unlike most of the songwriters in history, we are spoiled by the fact that we can listen to the writer herself giving HER interpretation of her music and words. Cut does that mean that Joni's original interpretation is always the ONLY one - or even the best? Actually I prefer not to speak of good-better-best in this context. There are simply different ways of approaching the same material. Joni has done this herself and HER different versions have also become the subject of many discussions on JMDL. Joni herself has talked about this concerning performing the same material again and again. "Hey man! Can you paint Starry Night again?" Myself, I have been totally blown away by Herbie's River. The last two months I have probably listened to it more times than any other music, Shine included. I don't see these versions as being in competition with any of the originals - but simply a different side of the same work. Here we can see how Herbier and Tina Turner or Nora, Leonard, even Joni herself, have examined the work, turned it slightly in their minds, and shown it to us in another light. Like a diamond, this work will look different, though just as brilliant, but different depending upon which facet one looks through. Did Herbier et al ADD anything? Yes, I think so - at the VERY least they added their Hearts and their Souls. Did they remove anything? Perhaps. But I think it is mostly that they simply show us another side of the same material. Personally, I think they succeeded. /Robban in Sweden - -----Original Message----- From: owner-onlyjoni@smoe.org [mailto:owner-onlyjoni@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Laurent Olszer Sent: den 11 februari 2008 17:16 To: joni@smoe.org Subject: River It just so happened i listened to River recently for the 1st time. I didn't read the digests at the time as i didn't want to spoil the fun of discovery. Of course i'm very happy if this grammy brings about a wider exposure to Joni's work. But i have to admit i'm missing the point of this album. What i mean is when i listen to many Joni's covers (thanks Bob) i can understand the contribution made by the artist to the original song. However i don't get that feeling with Herbie's River. It sounds like an exercise in style, almost like a < Joni made easy >, smooth jazz version. In other words, i see what Herbie removed and i don't see what he added. What am i missing ? Laurent ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:50:56 +0000 From: Sherelle Smith Subject: Joni and Herbie each win a Grammy! I am so happy to hear this! Believe it or not I wasn't able to see the Grammys last night. Tonight, I did see someone interview Herbie right after his win and he was beyond elated! This is wonderful news and I'm so happy to hear it!!! Sherelle _________________________________________________________________ Climb to the top of the charts! Play the word scramble challenge with star power. http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx?icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_jan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:08:59 -0800 (PST) From: Monika Bogdanowicz Subject: Grammys question What was Herbie's competition in the album of the year category? Also, was he actually at the show then? Was his "Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell" up at the stand or via satellite or whatever? -Monika, who didn't watch - --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:05:35 -0500 (EST) From: Eric Taylor Subject: Re: more of The Grammy Awards (yes!!!! Joni content!!!!) We love you Jerry Notaro but you are totally wrong when you say >>You blew it Joni. You should have been there. It was your hour to Shine.<< Certainly Joni realized that this was the night for Herbie but ALSO Larry to shine on their own. And shine they certainly did!!! Why does everyone still seem to treat Larry Klein like a footnote I often wonder? I am just SO ELATED by what happened at the Grammy Awards last night!!!!!!! It looks like real music is at long last making an overdue comeback and who better to lead the way than Joni and her incredibly awesome band mates! In tears..... ET NP: River: the joni letters (for at least the dozenth time since last September) & Buddah bless Tina Turner big time! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:36:56 -0500 (EST) From: Eric Taylor Subject: Re: Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell !!! JC Patti Parlette beautifully expresses my feelings as did Herbie >>What a Chelsea Morning! Woke up and had to pinch myself, saying: "Do you think this can be real?" "Was this just a dream some of us had?" "Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, Joni Mitchell, thank you so much!' Herbie speaks for us!<< I am in Joni heaven right now thanks to Herbie (listening to The Best Album Of The Year again & again today realizing the whole world is finally going to start paying attention to these wonderfully unsung musicians). I haven't been this excited about the state of music since Joni & Seal won Grammys back in 1996! But THIS is much much better!!! We are witnessing a most important moment in history right now and it's just SOOO GOOOD to see our lovely Joni up there leading the way. ET NP: still River the joni letters ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:07:16 -0500 From: frednow@aol.com Subject: Re: River "Laurent Olszer" wrote: It just so happened i listened to River recently for the 1st time. I didn't read the digests at the time as i didn't want to spoil the fun of discovery. Of course i'm very happy if this grammy brings about a wider exposure to Joni's work. But i have to admit i'm missing the point of this album. What i mean is when i listen to many Joni's covers (thanks Bob) i can understand the contribution made by the artist to the original song. However i don't get that feeling with Herbie's River. It sounds like an exercise in style, almost like a < Joni made easy >, smooth jazz version. In other words, i see what Herbie removed and i don't see what he added. What am i missing? - ----------------------------------------- With all due respect, Laurent, I think you're missing the whole thing. River is as far from the vapidity of smooth jazz as one could ever hope for. Channeling Debussy and Ravel, it's like an Impressionist's dream about Joni's songs, filtered through the musical mind of one of the genuine geniuses of the 20th and 21st centuries. Herbie's (and Wayne's) playing on this album is exceptional, significantly expanding the harmonic and textural palette, and allowing for a maximum of improvisational spirit. This excerpt from Tom Moon's review today on NPR's All Things Considered says it very well: "[Herbie] doesn't radically overhaul Mitchell's songs b instead, he gently opens them up and lures the singers into fascinating free-associative conversations. It's like there are two stories being told in these songs. One in Mitchell's words, alongside a secondary narrative being told between Hancock and his longtime collaborator, the amazing saxophonist Wayne Shorter." "Gently opens them up" is exactly what he does, letting in colors, light, air, and space. I'm not entirely sold on every singer ... for me the standouts are Norah Jones, Joni, and most of all Tina Turner. Luciana Souza, who I generally like, sounds flat or otherwise off. Corinne Bailey Rae, who I also like on her own material, just doesn't make it for me here. In my opinion, a luminous album of great depth and beauty. All best, Fred - -Fred Simon http://myspace.com/fredsimon ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:15:39 -0500 From: frednow@aol.com Subject: Herbie's Grammy Herbie winning Best Album of the Year is nothing short of a tear in the space-time continuum. Interesting that the last jazz album to do so was in 1964 (Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto), which was just barely the dawn of the birth of the record label industry. Now, on the eve of its death, another jazz album wins. Nice bookends. I think it's like that great joke about the band on the Titanic ... the boat's going down and the band leader says "Fuck these waltzes, let's play some jazz." Everyone knows the label industry is dead, so why not give the top award to a truly deserving album. All best, Fred - -Fred Simon http://myspace.com/fredsimon ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:23:38 -0500 (EST) From: Eric Taylor Subject: Re: my take on herbie's big win. rza666odb@aol.com rightly questioned >>do you all really feel that herbie's album deserved the grammy for album of the year over the other nominees?! i feel that maybe i look at this in a different way because i'm probably one of the youngest members of this discussion list, but i wonder how many of you have actually listened to the other albums nominated in the album of the year category? do you actually own amy's back to black or kanye's graduation (vince gill and foo fighters should not have been in this category by the way), or do you only own the joni letters? what i'm saying is, do you agree with the joni letters winning the big prize because it's a joni-related album, or do you really feel?that it is better than back to black and graduation? none of the 5 nominated albums in the category were my number 1 favorite album of '07, but if i had to pick out of the five, back to black is easily the best with graduation coming in second. in my opinion, these two albums are 10x better than the joni letters. mark ro!<< OK i admit that I haven't listened to any of the other nominees for Best Album. But I do stay current with new music even though i'm old & all i can say is that i am SHOCKED that Radiohead's In Rainbows was not even nominated for anything! Usually the Grammy Awards piss me off because they do things like punish artists such as Janet Jackson for revealing her nipple at the superbowl while rewarding boys like Justin Timberlake for the same god damn thing. I didn't watch the Grammy Awards last night probably for some of the same reasons Joni didn't attend. Hollywood just seems too in love with itself 4 me. But after listening to River dozens of times I must agree with the snobs that it absolutely deserves best album of the year status. It is about f---ing time that a jazz album won best album of the year & who could possibly deserve it more??? ET ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2007 #457 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe ------- Siquomb, isn't she? (http://www.siquomb.com/siquomb.cfm)