Tribute to Joni Mitchell

Posted by Brett Hooton Jan 31, 2007

Attention Joni Mitchell fans! Sunday night, January 28, one of folk music’s most influential singer/songwriters was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

This is quite an honor. Ms. Mitchell, as always, is now among a very select group of musicians that includes Neil Young and Leonard Cohen.

A star-studded tribute concert took place as part of the festivities and featured the likes of James Taylor, Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman, and funk-pop legend, Chaka Kahn, amongst others.

The other songwriter inductees were: Broadway and film score creator Raymond Egan (The Pioneers), the father of Canadian country music, Wilf Carter a.k.a. “Montana Slim” (Radio Era) and passionate Quebec artist Jean-Pierre Ferland (Modern Era).

In addition, the CBC has set up an incredible tribute page to Mitchell, entitled “All Sides Now.” This website contains archival footage from all periods of her career, including segments on her work in jazz and painting.

If you are bored some day, watch the great clips and try to count (a) how many cigarettes you see Joni smoke? and (b) how many berets she wears in the process?

It is an incredible resource if your YouTube-generation nephew needs to write an essay on a musician. Man, you got to give the Ceeb some credit on this one, they are definitely stepping out of their comfort zone.

Then, predictably, they fall right back in. Segments of the concert will be airing on CBC Radio 1 and 2 over the next few days. It will not appear on CBC television until March 5. Check your local listings for more details.

Until you actually find the broadcast, check out some of the reviews of the evening from Canada’s newspapers. American coverage has been pretty generous as well.

If you miss it, remember you can always put on Blue or one of her other amazing albums, drink a glass of red wine, and relax with a loved one. I think Joni would consider that enough of a tribute.