Joni Mitchell - Mingus (1979)

Writing collaboration between an ailing Mingus, who died shortly before its completion, and Joni Mitchell at the height of her jazz era.  The stellar cast of musicians, based around Weather Report plus Herbie Hancock, is the perfect lineup to back Joni's vocals and minimalist, percussive acoustic guitar.

Out of six tunes Mingus sang into a tape recorder for Joni, three made the album, and a fourth is her sterling setting of Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.  The remaining two are credited solely to Mitchell, but carry the spark of inspiration from the collaboration, especially God Must Be A Boogie Man.  Interspersed between the songs are audio verité recordings provided by Mingus' wife Sue, providing an intimate window into the final years of his life.  One of the most underrated albums in the Joni Mitchell canon, and a fine tribute to a jazz legend.

link

pw: sgtg

Joni Mitchell at SGTG:

Miles Of Aisles

Shadows And Light

Joni Mitchell - Miles Of Aisles (1974)

For all the creative strides that she made in succesive studio albums throughout the 70s, it's perhaps odd that my most enduring favourite Joni Mitchell albums have ended up being her two live releases (see also Shadows And Light, link below).  In both cases though, some of her very best songs really sparkle in a new light in their jazz-inflected arrangements; much more so on Shadows And Light, but on the 1974 Court And Spark tour Joni was on the cusp of her jazz era, backed by The LA Express.

The bulk of Miles Of Aisles comes from the LA Universal Ampitheatre in August 1974 - none of the recordings are from the Michigan Pine Knob Theater, although that venue did make for a striking album cover.  All of Joni's albums up to this point are touched on here in superb versions, personal highlights being the languid For The Roses tracks.  There's new material too - the second last song wouldn't appear on a studio album for another three years, and the final one is exclusive to this release.

link
pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG: Shadows And Light

Joni Mitchell - Shadows And Light (1980)

Metheny. Mays. Pastorius. Brecker.  Must be ECM Friday?  Not this time: it's a spotlight for, IMHO, the greatest live album ever made.  And it was released on Asylum in September 1980, a year after its recording at the Santa Barbara Bowl, where it was also filmed for a concert movie, hence the opening credits-style 'Introduction' left intact here.

At the end of the 70s, Joni Mitchell was wrapping up what has become my absolute favourite phase of her peerless career, spanning two magnificent albums, one admirably questionable double, and a lovely collaboration with a jazz legend nearing the end of his life.  All are represented here with some of their best tracks, given fresh propulsive energy by the crack team mentioned above: Hejira's great young bassist is particularly on fire throughout, to the point where I sometimes put this album on purely to listen to Jaco.  Pat Metheny's rising star confidence is a joy to listen to as well, even cheekily quoting his own 'Phase Dance' when Joni sings "...songs from the hit parade" in the first song.  Mays, Brecker and Don Alias round out an amazing band for this dream setlist, breezed through by a singer-songwriter who had utterly transcended that genre.  If you only have one Joni Mitchell album representing her 'jazz era', make it this one.

Disc 1 link
Disc 2 link