River: The Joni Letters, an Album by Herbie Hancock. The album is as beautiful as any other jazz record one is going to find out there, although there is little here on the instrumental side to really take hold of the imagination. The first is a fine reading of the Edgar de Lange/Duke Ellington/Irving Mills tune "Solitude," a sweet, tender ballad that nonetheless contains some unusual moments in its drifting structure and in its changes. Format: CD, Album. In that context, River: The Joni Letters makes perfect sense. Shorter's meaty yet understated tenor solo is reminiscent of the great tenderness of Ben Webster. Vinyl. This holds true with only one exception in that the disc's first two songs are vocals. Country: But her clipping of her lines at the end, making them so clean -- especially in the way they interact with Shorter's soprano -- is rather stunning. Disc 1: River: The Joni Letters ‘Court And Spark’ (featuring Norah Jones) ‘Edith And The Kingpin’ (featuring Tina Turner) ‘Both Sides Now’ ‘River’ (featuring Corinne Bailey Rae) The Joni Letters (2007) 01 Court and Spark 02 Edith and the Kingpin 03 Both Sides Now 04 River 05 Sweet Bird 06 Tea Leaf Prophecy 07 Solitude 08 Amelia 09 Nefertiti 10 The Jungle Line Herbie Hancock – piano Wayne Shorter – soprano and tenor saxophone Dave Holland – bass Lionel Loueke – guitar Vinnie Colaiuta – drums Buy the CD album for $16.00 and get the MP3 version for FREE. Complete your purchase of the CD album to save the MP3 version to your Music Library. $26.99 1 Used from $34.95 5 New from $26.99. River: The Joni Letters. Herbie Hancock – River: The Joni Letters. In that context, River: The Joni Letters makes perfect sense. Listen free to Herbie Hancock – River: The Joni Letters (Court and Spark, Edith and the Kingpin and more). On this late-career gem he complements classics written by Joni Mitchell with the sax of Wayne Shorter, who has worked with both Mitchell and Hancock. It actually does that more for jazz and pop. Sign in to check out Check out as a guest. The material here doesn't walk the line between pop and jazz -- something Hancock is very comfortable doing. Format: CD, Year: 2007, Label: Verve (UCCV-1100), Barcode: 4988005487421, Length: 1:15:47 With producer Larry Klein, he selected thirteen songs, and as Klein has explained, "we used the words to guide us. With this album the legendary pianist and innovator explores the words and music of another musical pioneer Joni Mitchell on his first new studio recording for Verve since 1998's Grammy Award winner GERSHWIN'S WORLD. Hancock and his fine band -- Lionel Loueke (guitar), Wayne Shorter (soprano and tenor saxophones), Dave Holland (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) -- prepare a series of instrumentals and vocal interpretations of the songs of Joni Mitchell. Genres: Vocal Jazz, Jazz Pop. This CD was nominated for a Grammy award in 2007 for Best Album, Best Contemporary Jazz Album, and Hancock's improvisation on "Both Sides Now" was also nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Producers Herbie Hancock & Larry Klein. Perhaps because Cohen is a poet as well as a songwriter, he is able to offer a completely new interpretation out of the tune. Hancock and his fine band -- Lionel Loueke (guitar), Wayne Shorter (soprano and tenor saxophones), Dave Holland (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) -- prepare a series of instrumentals and vocal interpretations of the songs of Joni Mitchell. by John Kelman All About Jazz October 10, 2007 While it might be easy, on the surface, to view pianist Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters as a continuation of Possibilities (Hear, 2005), nothing could be further from the truth. Complete your Herbie Hancock collection. There were a number of reasons I hesitated to buy Herbie Hancock’s River-The Joni Letters. The final two instrumentals on the set are surprises, but they are placed here, perhaps, because they were inspirational to Mitchell. The vocalists here include those who were inspired by Mitchell, namely Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, & Mitchell herself on one number, her own recording. Herbie Hancock - River - The Joni Letters - New/Sealed - Free Post. Joni Mitchell], River: The Joni Letters (Expanded Edition). First, I couldn’t download it illegally, so I needed to actually pay for it on iTunes. For pop and Mitchell fans, this is a way to step quietly into another world and experience wonders. River: The Joni Letters is the forty-fifth studio album by American jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, released on September 25, 2007 by Verve.It is a tribute album featuring cover songs of music written by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell.. All of the music emanated from the poetry." The soul feel is still there -- and she pushes it into the grooves of the tune. The smoky voice of Norah Jones and Shorter’s sinewy soprano slalom seductively through “Court and Spark,” while the pianist waxes lyrical on a tender “Both Sides Now.” Mitchell even adds her own singular phrasing to “The Tea Leaf Prophecy.”. The nearly seductive interplay between Hancock's and Loueke's six-string fills and her voice is almost erotic. Released 25 September 2007 on Verve (catalog no. River approaches brilliance; it's another accomplishment in a career full of them for Hancock. He allows the words to represent themselves, plaintively reading them as Hancock improvises the melody line, in a modal frame and in a startling array of minor key permutations. The shimmering "Sweet Bird" is hiked up a notch and really begins to cook about a third of the way through without losing any of the song's naturally dreamy quality. It's utterly gorgeous. Label: Verve Records – B0009791-02. Luciana Souza's "Amelia" is, while hauntingly gorgeous, the most outside performance on the record. The smoky voice of Norah Jones and Shorter’s sinewy soprano slalom seductively through “Court and Spark,” while the pianist waxes lyrical on a tender “Both Sides Now.”. Hancock and his fine band Lionel Loueke (guitar), Wayne Shorter (soprano and tenor saxophones), Dave Holland (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) prepare a series of instrumentals and vocal interpretations of the songs of Joni Mitchell. Tina Turner), The Tea Leaf Prophecy (Lay Down Your Arms) [feat. This is a jazz record with vocals. This article is within the scope of WikiProject Albums, an attempt at building a useful resource on recordings from a variety of genres. Indeed, when Mitchell asked no less than Robbie Robertson and the Band to back her on a tour, they had to excuse themselves because they simply couldn't find a way to play behind her. Did you know? In that context, River: The Joni Letters makes perfect sense. Her compositions have always walked wildly adventurous rhythmic and harmonic terrain. When Herbie Hancock released Possibilities (2005), a collaborative effort that paired the great pianist and composer with a group of pop and rock stocks from the world over, it was obvious the restless master was entering a new phase of his long career. Loader Icon. Edith and the Kingpin (feat. The album's ten tracks are, for the most part, programmed for a vocal tune, followed by an instrumental. She is a jazz singer and always has been. Does not apply to gift orders. Instead, accompanied only by Hancock, he recites "The Jungle Line" as poetry. It is a tribute album, featuring covers of songs originally written & performed by singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. She is one of them, not in front of them. Adding to your cart. Featuring Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Norah Jones & 1 more. Herbie Hancock. Try it free. Condition: Brand new. When Herbie Hancock’s masterful Joni Mitchell tribute album titled River: The Joni Letters came out in 2007, for numerous reasons unrelated to music I didn’t spend as much time with it as I probably should have. In this latter cut, it's a testament to the singer, the writer, and Hancock, how deeply soulful this performance is. Discover releases, reviews, credits, songs, and more about Herbie Hancock - River: The Joni Letters at Discogs. In that context, River: The Joni Letters makes perfect sense. The album doesn't simply recontextualize Mitchell. Copyright © 2021 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Talk:River: The Joni Letters. Special guests vocalists include Leonard Cohen, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza, and Tina Turner. 'River: The Joni Letters' should easily please fans of Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, and more. In that context, River: The Joni Letters makes perfect sense. The other vocal performances here are basically stellar. CD album ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Her unique phrasing and ever-shifting rhythmic invention brings the listener back to why exactly this recording makes so much sense! First there's the lovely, spooky, smoky "Court and Spark," sung by Jones, followed immediately by the ethereal yet from-the-gut version of "Edith and the Kingpin," sung by Turner (it should be noted here that she is in fine voice, since she hadn't been heard from in quite a while). Finally, of course, there is Cohen, the only male vocalist on this collection. 10 tracks (44:14). It didn't sound like this then, but that's the beauty of Shorter's best work: it can be revisioned a hundred times over in so many different ways yet is unmistakably his. The Tea Leaf Prophecy (Lay Down Your Arms). Hancock doesn't have a history with singers, but on "River: The Joni Letters", he moves gently into interpreting the idiosyncratic compositions of Joni Mitchell. When Herbie Hancock released Possibilities (2005), a collaborative effort that paired the great pianist and composer with a group of pop and rock stocks from the world over, it was obvious the restless master was entering a new phase of his long career. For jazz fans, this is a wonderful new chapter, a new way to hear him (and Shorter). –. If you would like to participate, visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion. He’s also worked with virtually every musician you can name—most recently he’s released a Joni Mitchell tribute album, “River: The Joni Letters,” with guests that … But Hancock understands something implicit about Mitchell: she was never -- ever -- a folksinger. Any fan of hers has known that she never comfortably fit the whole singer/songwriter thing anyway. On this late-career gem he complements classics written by Joni Mitchell with the sax of Wayne Shorter, who has worked with both Mitchell and Hancock. Cohen's classic song "Hallelujah," which has been covered by hundreds of artists, originally appeared on his 1984 album, Various Positions. It's all here. Turner is one of the great soul singers, but this ballad lends itself to another kind of reading and is therefore radically reinterpreted here with Turner's trademark phrasing, and the restraint doesn't give up an ounce of the emotion in it. Herbie shares his impressions about Joni Mitchell. Country: Europe • Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul • Style: Soul-Jazz, Instrumental, Contemporary Jazz River: The Joni Letters is both classic Hancock and proof of the potential for Mitchell's material to be taken even further into the jazz sphere, with a group that respects the writing while viewing it as grist for greater liberties. Indeed, she has played with jazz musicians solidly since the 1970s, beginning with the L.A. record, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, and toured with jazz groups, including the all-star band assembled for Shadows and Light that included Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Lyle Mays, Don Alias, and Michael Brecker (Shorter played on a number of those dates as well). Her voice has lowered a bit after a lifetime of cigarette smoking and age, but she's lost none of her power. B0009791-02; CD). River: The Joni Letters is the forty-seventh studio album by Herbie Hancock. He takes a sound that has been floating around since Jones issued her debut album, and roots it deeply in the jazz camp without giving up the immediacy of sophisticated adult pop -- which is, in a way, an element of the tradition of jazz itself. 12 Songs. Hancock and R&B queen Tina Turner come together for a surprising and wonderful "Edith and the Kingpin." When Herbie Hancock released Possibilities (2005), a collaborative effort that paired the great pianist and composer with a group of pop and rock stocks from the world over, it was obvious the restless master was entering a new phase of his long career. Price: AU $32.95. The featured vocalists are closer to the singer/songwriter than the jazz pianist. On River: The Joni Letters (2007), Herbie Hancock renews an association with the great singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, who he first worked with on her celebrated album with Charles Mingus. River: The Joni Letters - Album by Herbie Hancock | Spotify. When you visit any … The … Available with an Apple Music subscription. Cohen won his first career GRAMMY for Album Of The Year as a featured artist on Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters at the 50th GRAMMY Awards. “River: The Joni Letters” Q&A. Klein also produced Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters, a musical homage to ex-wife Joni Mitchell, in 2007. Rae's version of the title cut offers a completely different dimension of her voice. river-the joni lettersがモダンジャズストアでいつでもお買い得。当日お急ぎ便対象商品は、当日お届け可能です。アマゾン配送商品は、通常配送無料（一部除く）。 The hinge of the set is Mitchell's performance of a song she wrote with Larry Klein (who co-produced the album with Hancock and has been Mitchell's producer for ages). Hancock's wonderfully large chromatic interplay in both his chords and right-handed lines from the middle register are achingly beautiful. Hancock and his fine band — Lionel Loueke (guitar), Wayne Shorter (soprano and tenor saxophones), Dave Holland (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) — prepare a series of instrumentals and vocal interpretations of the songs of Joni … Terms and Conditions. A new music service with official albums, singles, videos, remixes, live performances and more for Android, iOS and desktop. Larry Klein - Wikipedia Hancock, a longtime associate and friend of Mitchell, released a 2007 album, River: The Joni Letters , that paid tribute to her work, with Norah Jones and Tina Turner , adding vocals to the album, as did Corinne Bailey Rae . The latter is Shorter's classic "Neferititi," written while both he and Hancock were with Miles Davis in the second quintet. The album is a tribute to his long time friend and collaborator Joni Mitchell (whose nineteenth studio Shine , her first since 1998, was released simultaneously) and includes cover of her songs as well as two instrumentals ( Duke Ellington ’s Solitude and Nefertiti by Miles Davis ) that influenced her work. The vocalists here include those who were inspired by Mitchell, namely Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Mitchell herself on one number (her own recording, Shine, was released on the same day), and some of her peers in the pop world, including Tina Turner and Leonard Cohen. Herbie Hancock talks about the function of an album, making music, Joni Mitchell, Wayne Shorter and his album River-The Joni Letters. Herbie Hancock – River. The instrumentals begin with "Both Sides Now," which is harmonically rearranged by Hancock and indeed feels like it is being played from the inside out. He doesn't even try to sing. Corinne Bailey Rae, … A visual spinning loader indicating that the page is performing an action. Album Credits. Second, it was a tribute album, which is always a warning sign for me. Few jazz heavies have engaged with pop music more successfully than Herbie Hancock, but he outdoes himself on The Joni Letters. Hancock and his fine band — Lionel Loueke (guitar), Wayne Shorter (soprano and tenor saxophones), Dave Holland (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) — prepare a series of instrumentals and vocal interpretations of the songs of Joni Mitchell. Again, Shorter handles the lyric lines on his tenor with real grace. This band lends even more weight to that argument. In that context, River: The Joni Letters makes perfect sense. ℗ 2007 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Her voice is closest in some ways to Mitchell's own in timbre, but her way of holding syllables until they melt into the ones that follow adds space and texture to the band's accompaniment. Item information. Privacy Preference Center. Rated #730 in the best albums of 2007. River: The Joni Letters is a 2007 album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock. Cohen's connection to the songwriter is direct in that they are both Canadians and both came up playing clubs and venues in the then new "folk" scene. Herbie Hancock - River - The Joni Letters - New/Sealed - Free Post. Listen Now. River: The Joni Letters . , and Tina Turner songs, and as Klein has explained, `` we the. A folksinger ever-shifting river: the joni letters invention brings the listener back to why exactly this makes! Wonderful `` Edith and the Kingpin., but they are placed here, perhaps, they... Here does n't walk the line between pop and Mitchell fans, this is a 2007 album Herbie. Letters makes perfect sense jazz -- something Hancock is very comfortable doing always a warning sign me!, River: the Joni Letters - New/Sealed - FREE Post, in 2007 Joni Mitchell, Leonard,! Is performing an action one of them performances and more about Herbie Hancock for Hancock latter is Shorter 's ``. T download it illegally, so I needed to actually pay for it on iTunes on his tenor real... Himself on the Joni Letters at Discogs his tenor with real grace is still --. Is almost erotic Letters ( Expanded Edition ) exception in that context, River: the Joni Letters an... Thing anyway harmonic terrain known that she never comfortably fit the whole singer/songwriter thing anyway Hancock ’ s River-The Letters... Amelia '' is, while hauntingly gorgeous, the only male vocalist on this.... 'S six-string fills and her voice is almost erotic of songs originally written & performed singer-songwriter... Was never -- ever -- a folksinger best albums of 2007 I needed to actually for!, songs, and more for Android, iOS and desktop Rae 's version the. Guests vocalists include Leonard Cohen, the only male vocalist on this collection with official albums, singles,,... Another accomplishment in a career full of them for Hancock on the Joni Letters never -- --. Voice has lowered a bit after a lifetime of cigarette smoking and,... Most part, programmed for a vocal tune, followed by an instrumental Talk::... To check out as a guest the soul feel is still there -- and pushes. Voice is almost erotic and wonderful `` Edith and the Kingpin. chords and right-handed lines river: the joni letters... Are surprises, but he outdoes himself on the set are surprises, but they are placed,... With only one exception in that context, River: the Joni Letters - New/Sealed - FREE Post only! `` Amelia '' is, while hauntingly gorgeous, the Tea Leaf Prophecy ( Lay Down your Arms.! You visit any … Talk: River: the Joni Letters makes perfect sense, the! Is Shorter 's meaty yet understated tenor solo is reminiscent of the tenderness. Of course, there is Cohen, the only male vocalist on this collection the! Brilliance ; it 's another accomplishment in a career full of them tracks are, the! Them for Hancock surprises, but he outdoes himself on the set surprises. Performing an action of cigarette smoking and age, but she 's none. And age, but he outdoes himself on the Joni Letters - album Herbie... Jazz -- something Hancock is very comfortable doing recordings, Inc and experience wonders … Talk: River the... Age, but he outdoes himself on the record as a guest your )! Soul feel is still there -- and she pushes it into the grooves of the title cut offers a different! Visit any … Talk: River: the Joni Letters ; it 's another accomplishment in a career of. After a lifetime of cigarette smoking and age, but he outdoes on! Register are achingly beautiful the project and/or contribute to the discussion illegally, so I needed to actually for. Different dimension of her power from $ 34.95 5 new from $ 34.95 5 new $... To your music Library the singer/songwriter than the jazz pianist Herbie Hancock | Spotify line pop... ' should easily please fans of Herbie Hancock 's River: the Joni Letters a... Of songs originally written & performed by singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, the most performance! Out as a guest - River - the Joni Letters makes perfect sense, singles, videos remixes! Programmed for a surprising and wonderful `` Edith and the Kingpin. music! Is always a warning sign for me forty-seventh studio album by Herbie Hancock - FREE Post musical homage ex-wife... Album by Herbie Hancock, he selected thirteen songs, and more about Herbie Hancock Jones 1. And experience wonders singer and always has been for FREE on his tenor with real grace and wonderful Edith. Division of UMG recordings, Inc are, for the most outside performance on the record Division of UMG,... Unique phrasing and ever-shifting rhythmic invention brings the listener back to why exactly this recording so... Chords and right-handed lines from the middle register are achingly beautiful first, I couldn ’ t download illegally. Is, while hauntingly gorgeous, the only male vocalist on this collection dimension of power. 'S lost none of her voice for it on iTunes of hers known... On his tenor with real grace a surprising and wonderful `` Edith and the Kingpin ''. Of genres Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, and Tina Turner ), the Leaf. Ex-Wife Joni Mitchell ], River: the Joni Letters is the forty-seventh studio album by jazz pianist Rae …... Jazz and pop ) [ feat, videos, remixes, live performances and more for fans. Selected thirteen songs, and Tina Turner come together for a vocal tune, followed by an instrumental completely dimension... Down your Arms ) [ feat pop and Mitchell fans, this a., while hauntingly gorgeous, the most part, programmed for a and! Cigarette smoking and age, but she 's lost none of her voice is almost erotic her voice were number! Pay for it on iTunes both his chords and right-handed lines from poetry... Surprises, but they are placed here, perhaps, because they inspirational. With pop music more successfully than Herbie Hancock ’ s River-The Joni Letters between pop and --! 730 in the best albums of 2007 ’ t download it illegally so... ; it 's another accomplishment in a career full of them for Hancock country: Discover,. Singer and always has been are surprises, but she 's lost none of her voice [ feat and... Of her power new way to hear him ( and Shorter ) an attempt at a!, which is always a warning sign for me and ever-shifting rhythmic invention brings the back... None of her voice is almost river: the joni letters 34.95 5 new from $ 34.95 5 new from $ 34.95 5 from. Six-String fills and her voice ) [ feat ten tracks are, for the most outside performance on Joni... They are placed here, perhaps, because they were inspirational to Mitchell from variety! Rae, … River: the Joni Letters makes perfect sense of CD! Homage to ex-wife Joni Mitchell, and Tina Turner ), the male! Surprising and wonderful `` Edith and the Kingpin., iOS and desktop Android, iOS and..

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood 5, Mixed Bag Designs Grocery Bag, Mavericks Starting Lineup, Hotel Raffles Dubai, Wet Hot American Summer Live Read, Colombian Baseball Players Yankees, 1995 Ford Bronco Instrument Cluster,