UPDATED WITH TRACK LIST: Back To The Garden: ‘Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration’ Tribute Concert Coming to Theaters in February, Soundtrack Arriving in March
Few musicians have had as lasting an impact on music as Joni Mitchell. In her four-decade career, she made groundbreaking music that traversed genres and continually stunned fans and critics alike. The music icon celebrated her 75th birthday in style last November, as Jörn Weisbrodt and The Music Center in Los Angeles hosted a pair of star-studded Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration concerts in her honor. The line-up (which Joni helped select) featured many of her closest friends and dearest collaborators, including Graham Nash, Seal, Chaka Khan,Kris Kristofferson, and James Taylor. Also on the bill were Diana Krall, Brandi Carlile, Rufus Wainwright, Emmylou Harris, Glen Hansard, Norah Jones, and Los Lobos with La Marisoul, Cesar Castro & Xochi Flores. Featuring a set of Joni classics and deep cuts from across her career, each night was a thrilling tribute full of excellent music. November 7 was even more magnificent, as Mitchell herself attended and even appeared onstage to blow out birthday candles and sing along as the all-star band and more than 3,000 fans sang “Happy Birthday” and “Big Yellow Taxi” in tribute to her.
Next month, Joni Mitchell fans will be able to enjoy the celebrations again. Global film distributors Trafalgar Releasing and The Music Center have partnered for a special, one-night-only screening of Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration, taking place in movie theaters across the U.S. and Canada on Thursday, February 7. The two-hour, Martyn Atkins-directed film includes footage of the entire concert (captured over two nights), along with special behind-the-scenes interviews with the artists. For more about the film, check out Sam’s review on Joni Mitchell’s official website.
“We are thrilled to bring audiences together in movie theaters across North America to experience this magical evening,” said Trafalgar Releasing SVP of Programming, Kymberli Frueh. “The incredible talent featured in this concert is a true testament to the impact that Joni has had on musicians and fans alike.”
A CD of highlights from the concert — also entitled Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration — will be available on March 8 from Decca. The album’s 16 tracks include such highlights as Brandi Carlile and Kris Kristofferson’s heartfelt take on “A Case of You,” Seal’s breathtaking “Both Sides Now,” Diana Krall’s haunting take on “Amelia,” and and Los Lobos and Friends’ rollicking “Dreamland,” which features Chaka Khan reprising her guest vocal spot, as she did on the original recording back in 1977.
Anchoring each live performance — on CD and on screen — is a top-notch house band full of Joni’s collaborators. Led by drummer Brian Blade and pianist Jon Cowherd, the band also includes guitarists Greg Leisz and Marvin Sewell, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, as well as Jeff Haynes on percussion, Chris Thomas on bass, Bob Sheppard on woodwinds, and special guest Scarlet Rivera on violin.
With a wealth of musical talent and selections from across Joni’s illustrious career, Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration is a fitting tribute to one of the legendary musicians of our time. The upcoming film screening and CD are perfect for fans who want to relive those two nights in November, or for those who weren’t able to see it in person. The film will screen across North America for one night only on February 7. You can find the screening nearest you and purchase tickets at Joni75.com. Scroll down to see the trailer. The soundtrack CD is set to arrive from Decca on March 8. Check out the pre-order links and take a look the album’s track list below!
Various Artists, Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration (Decca, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- Los Lobos with La Marisoul, Cesar Castro & Xochi Flores, featuring Chaka Khan – Dreamland
- Chaka Khan – Help Me
- Diana Krall – Amelia
- Rufus Wainwright – All I Want
- Glen Hansard – Coyote
- James Taylor – River
- Seal – Both Sides Now
- Graham Nash – Our House
- Kris Kristofferson and Brandi Carlile – A Case of You
- Brandi Carlile – Down To You
- Rufus Wainwright – Blue
- Norah Jones – Court and Spark
- Los Lobos with La Marisoul, Cesar Castro & Xochi Flores – Nothing Can Be Done
- Emmylou Harris – The Magdalene Laundries
- James Taylor – Woodstock
- All – Big Yellow Taxi
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4 thoughts on “UPDATED WITH TRACK LIST: Back To The Garden: ‘Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration’ Tribute Concert Coming to Theaters in February, Soundtrack Arriving in March”
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And of all the songs he could have picked (Urge For Going, perhaps?) Graham Nash did one of his own instead of one of here. Granted, it’s about her, but still.
Says all you want to know abt Graham Nash and his ego. And TBH Our House to my ears has all been an insufferable, self-satisfied awful piece of music. Putting it on this record (and in the concert) will be annoying to my ears.
HappyBirthday!! Joni, q1from Scotland!! You are a reincarnation of Robert Burns Still the peoples poet.
The set list is incredible! It’s nice to see her friends pay a beautiful homage to her, as well as seeing newer artists show their admiration for her with their performances. Let’s be real though, we’d have to celebrate Joni’s birthday about seventeen times to fit her iconic career onto one live album