Joni Mitchell 75: A Birthday Celebration

As a nearly lifelong fan of Joni Mitchell -- and I'm almost as old as she is -- I very much wanted to enjoy this video record of a celebration of her work on the occasion of her 75th birthday. But it's on balance a disappointment, and not only because my expectations were high. The line-up of stars is immensely promising, the song selection unobjectionable (every fan is going to find some favorites omitted, in my case “Come In From the Cold” and “Refuge of the Roads”), and the back-up band nearly perfect, but the execution misfires uncomfortably far too often. One of the joys of Mitchell’s performances was the clarity of her enunciation, but you’ll be hard pressed to detect the lyrics you remember so well in Norah Jones’ muddled rendition of “Court and Spark” or Diana Krall’s bizarrely mannered take on “For the Roses” and “Amelia.” And who on earth thought that Chaka Kahn, looking like she just got off the plane from Vegas, was the right person to sing one of Mitchell’s most austere, ascetic numbers, “Two Grey Rooms”? It comes off like an SNL parody. Seal is startlingly good on “Both Sides Now,” and James Taylor acquits himself well on “Woodstock,” but the most affecting and almost redeeming moment of the night happens when Brandi Carlile nurses an enfeebled Kris Kristofferson through a touching rendition of “A Case of You.” That, and Carlile’s follow-up delivery of “Down to You,” is the sort of straightforward homage that this show should have been about all along. As it is, “Joni 75” should be approached with caution by the devoted Mitchell fan. It compares poorly with the fondly-remembered (but I think unavailable) “All-Star Tribute to Joni Mitchell” that was broadcast on TNT back in 2000, with a very different roster of performers who seemed to take the idea of a tribute more sincerely to heart.

I'm a life-long Joni Mitchell fan, and like many others of us, I've always thought nobody can do a Joni song like she can, and why would they, since she set the bar so high. BUT these performances reveal what real musicians can do, how deeply they can delve into the music and find glorious new things to share. The obvious love of these performers for Joni Mitchell (and that most definitely includes the stellar "back-up" band) is obvious, and the fine minds and ears they have turned to find inspiration in her work, is stunning. And they don't make the obvious choices--one of the things I love about this concert is how deeply the singers have looked into her vast catalog and the very interesting choices they have made in material and style of performance. They have truly honored Joni Mitchell, and we, the fans, are all the more grateful for the quality and sincerity and excellence of the their work. This is essential viewing and listening. I only regret that the CD that accompanies the DVD doesn't include all the performances.

I havent heard it but I will rate it based on an exceptional history of the material, and it creator. 'I have been introducing my and their grandmothers music as a conduit seeing us peoplemusic does that.

I enjoyed watching the performances at the gala event honoring Joni Mitchell. Joni remained seated in the audience the entire time. Many renown musicians, who either had personal or working relationships with Joni over the years, took to the stage to honor her and perform her music. These included Graham Nash, James Taylor, Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris, Chaka Khan and many others. The accompanying instrumentalists were outstanding too. Most of the songs were from the latter part of Joni's career (post "Court and Spark"). As the case may be, I still prefer Joni's earlier music, which speaks to my heart better. I've never been a jazz fan.

Great Tribute Concert. I thoroughly enjoyed.

I’ve always been a person who purchased the latest Joni Mitchell albums as soon as they were released. I saw the 75th birthday film as soon as it was available at the theater. I wish the CD included everything that was in the film. The film and the CD include some of the finest musicians playing and recording today. I’ve been a Joni fan from the beginnings of her career and will continue to be until the end. I hope that another group (could be some of the same) of singers take on more of her tunes as soon as possible.

A loving tribute to Joni and her music. She is so underrated. If she was male society would've dubbed her a genius — A Renaissance woman! Lovely to her others cover her songs, but no one sings them with as much feeling as her.

At first, I shied away from this recording because nobody does Joni like Joni. But, then I watched segments of it on a PBS presentation. I was moved by the heartfelt renditions of her wonderful songs, especially Los Lobos and Kris Kristofferson with Brandi Carlyle. A wonderful and timely tribute to an unmatched talent, singer, songwriter, artist Joni Mitchell.

We saw the concert at a local cinema and were completely captivated by the quality of the musicianship ,atmosphere and quality of the sound It felt like you were there ! The DVD is the same superb ! Highlights fir me are Los Lobos, what a great voice and wonderful interpretation of the songs,Rufus Wainwright’s rendition of Blue and the staggering performance if Seal singing Both Sides Now! Having said that they are all great and hearing these singers sing the songs makes you realise what a superb musician Joni is as wellas a great wordsmith ! A worthy tribute to a great artist ..buy it !

I am reviewing the dvd of the event as I already reviewed the cd, sad to see some of the ageing process of many of Joni’s boyfriends from the past! The dvd is an excellent watch and it is interesting to note the different ways Joni’s songs have been interpreted! I thoroughly enjoyed this dvd. I’m certainly not going to rate each singer’s performance, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” etc!

Several well known artists sing Joni's songs to her at a concert for her birthday - including several from 'Blue', 'Court and Spark' and 'For the Roses'. Of course, nobody can sing them the way she did; but rightly they all bring their own style and it's done very well. For devotees this is an beautifully emotive concert - very moving at times (especially Kris Kristofferson - with Brandi Carlile (wow, what a voice she has)).

How disappointing. All her songs sung unfortunately by famous singers who are unable to sing like her. She must have sat there thinking wow my voice is superb. I know it’s only their take on her songs but not really much of a celebration.

I saw this at the cinema and was blown away by the incredible standard of musicianship especially by the band. I cannot think of many other artists that have created their own genre and triumphed in it the way JM has and wish I could encounter someone new and upcoming like that. Joni did not and could not perform at this concert but those that did excelled themselves with this very demanding material. The filming is great for observing the musicians at work and the sound too is great. Whatever your tastes, if you have a musical bone in your body you must surely appreciate the skill and creativity on show here.