Joni Mitchell At Newport

I have been a Joni Mitchell fan since my teens, finding the depth and originality of her music drawing me in with an intensity that to my mind makes her at least the greatest female solo artist ever, and possibly even the greatest solo artist full stop. Her last word was 2007’s ‘Shine’ before retiring from music to concentrate on her other great passion, painting. The Archive Series, with Volume 1 released in 2020 and Volume 2 in 2021 gave access to the first new official material for years, but as the name suggests, from Joni’s personal and extensive archives, nothing newly recorded. But following a long road back to health after suffering from a brain aneurysm in 2015 and rare, non-performing public appearances this was a surprise return to the Newport Folk Festival stage she last graced in 1969 on 24th July, 2022. Long term fan Brandi Carlile who performed at 2018’s Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration and a later tribute concert, Songs Are Like Tattoos singing the full ‘Blue’ album introduces a surprise guest to a ‘Joni Jam’ to the shock and obvious delight of the crowd – Joni herself. Seated, and with a large backing group present to offer both encouragement and vocal accompaniment, Joni launches into a duet of Big Yellow Taxi.Owning all her albums and longing for more for years, I have to reveal I wept tears of joy to hear Mitchell finally sing again after so long following her health problems, which made it highly unlikely that she would ever perform again. The impact of this album is at once a joyous celebration as a warmly welcome return to a stage after many years. The voice is even deeper than on the marvellous revisionist ‘Both Sides Now’ and ‘Travelogue’, it’s an aged voice, and sometimes there are adaptations of the songs to be slower than originally sung – but it’s such a privilege to hear it again, probably for one last time. Sometimes Carlile or others such as Lucius, Marcus Mumford, Taylor Goldsmith, or Celisse take a leading role, with Joni taking a supporting role; and she clearly isn’t in full health; but anything from what is a historic performance is sympathetically rendered. The selection of tracks come from all phases of her career; all tracks are lovely representations of highlights from a glittering back catalogue, and what is so surprising is how everything hangs together so well – the set list chosen is not fully obvious, in particular featuring the only live performance of ‘Shine’, recorded in studio well after she had finished her touring years, which makes this worthwhile to Mitchell fans on that basis alone. There' s also a cover of George Gershwin's 'Summertime' in a quite different rendition than one released to the grey market in 2009 as 'Bread and Rose with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter from a 1978 live performance.Highlights are almost too many to mention here, but I can’t resist making special mention of ‘Amelia’, my very favourite Mitchell track given a new twist. This is a warm, beautifully recorded, laid back and relaxing concert. To have actually have been there must have been something very special indeed. There are obvious edits removing conversation and/or setup between tracks, but this, finally is a satisfactory coda to a stellar career.1 Introduction by Brandi Carlile2 Big Yellow Taxi (feat. Lucius)3 A Case of You (feat. Marcus Mumford)4 Amelia (feat. Taylor Goldsmith)5 Both Sides Now6 Just Like This Train7 Summertime8 Carey (feat. Brandi Carlile)9 Help Me (feat. Celisse)10 Come in From the Cold (feat. Taylor Goldsmith)11 Shine (feat. Brandi Carlile)12 The Circle Game

I never expected to see a new release after her illness but this is a great addition to her work and very emotionally fulfilling- I agree with some reviews - that if you are relatively new to her work there would be better purchases and I wouldn’t splash out on the vinyl which seemed overpriced but the CD is excellent and a great live recording well worth multiple plays and overall good value - good for the heart, mind and soul

She has had an brain aneurysm; she has needed to learn to walk and talk, let alone play the guitar and sing and, yet, the voice is still there; she's in key and sounding strong.This is a wonderful album of Joni songs, taken from a number of albums ("Court And Spark", "Hejira" to name two) and features support by a star-studded array of talent, led by Brandi Carlile, who deserves such credit for championing her return.The album grabbed my attention immediately, with Brandi's introduction, and my personal favourites include a great Joni-instrumental of "Just Like This Train", a startling rendition of "Summertime" and "Amelia"; but they are all brilliant. Joni doesn't sing on all of them, but that doesn't matter. Everyone pays homage to Joni just by treating all the songs with such respect.The crowd go wild at everything, Joni laughs, sings brilliantly and the musicians and backing singers help make this a sensational return to the limelight.Listen, enjoy and be amazed. If only there were a DVD of the concert instead of finding clips on Youtube ...

Have been looking forward to receiving this album,it's now arrived and is superb,l could not believe the set she played,the sound quality is good,and as she has not played in public for 20years,the set is so good,if you like Joni then you need to purchase this album you will not be disappointed,she still has the power to make you feel happy ☺ etc,the other thing is that the album grabs you straight away,you don't have to listen to it a few times before it grabs you,it's instant from the first track,a very happy Sherlock.

I have loved the music of Joni Mitchell for over 50 years and I am delighted that she is still with us after her terrible health problems and also that she took to the stage with the "Joni Jam" at Newport BUT this isn't a Joni Mitchell album. Sure she does sing on some of the songs but so do others and there is even an instrumental. This is only for the committed Joni fan and I count myself one of them. If you are new to her music buy her other albums.That said the versions of Summertime and Both Sides Now are sublime.

Quite simply, a joy.

It's great to hear Joni again and she's in pretty good voice. But she only appears on a few of the songs and yet it's marketed as 'Joni Mitchell'. The other performers are pretty good, but they're not what most people who purchase this will want. Oh well, I have all my other CDs to listen to - and the few tracks on this CD where Joni leads and shines.

This is purely a personal view as you will see the vast majority will love this album and good luck to them.Yes I know this is Joni's return after nearly dying and having to learn to talk and walk, let alone sing and play but Joni hardly features. When she does though, she is magical. When she does not it is pretty mediocre and sometimes painfully cringey thanks to Brandi Carlile.One star for Summertime.