Don Juan's Reckless Daughter

*July 15, 1983.  It was a steamy night in Philly, perfect for an outdoor concert. I was, along with my brother, Vincent, and my concert pal, Ron, in an irrepressible restless state. We felt giddy with disbelief that here we were, at the newly named Mann Music Center, on the cusp of seeing Joni Mitchell perform live. 

Joni Mitchell. 
Poet. Painter. Songwriter. Musician.

Today's post is my shameless, diehard fan indulgence because it is Joni's 68th birthday. (Please see the added 07/24/22 note toward the end of this inital post)

I marvel now at the long ago concert's simplicity, confirming for me that the greater the artist, the more unencumbered their performance. Joni shared her songs and the stage with a remarkable cadre of jazz and blues legends - poetic and powerful:

Don Alias - Drums, Percussion
Michael Brecker - Sax (born and raised in Cheltenham Twp., PA)
Lyle Mays - Keyboards
Pat Metheny - Lead Guitar
Jaco Pastorius - Bass (born in Norristown, PA)
The Persuasions - Vocals

The humid summer evening balanced the smooth musical coolness as Joni glided through her song catalog, focusing on her mid-seventies transition from folk to jazz overtones. I equally felt so hip and so humbled in that crowd.

Joni recorded her first live concert album, "Shadows and Light," on this tour giving endless access to that musically fecund evening. 

You Tube reliably serves up many concert moments. This clip of the 1979 tour opener is laced with fifties movie footage shown that night and features Joni and the Persuasions creating a cathedral atmosphere with "Shadows and Light," and ending with Joni and the band offering up the jazz infused "In France They Kiss On Main Street." 

Then, Joni and the Persuasions took a spin back to the musical fifties with the unexpected cover of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?"

Joni's writing is attached, first, to my soul. Sometimes I indulge in reading her lyrics minus the music just for the pleasing poetic experience it brings.   The fact that she can create music to push those lyrics further in meaning mesmerizes me and has kept me a fan since I bought my first Joni album, the 1970 "Ladies of the Canyon." 

It is her struggle with clarity and opaqueness in relationships that hits me hard.  Her soaring descriptions of restless travel and the striving to feed her calling as a painter, poet and musician equally satiate me and keep me hungry for more. This is a contradiction I love to feast on. 

She wrestles internally in "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter,"

Behind my bolt locked door
The eagle and the serpent are at war in me
The serpent fighting for blind desire
The eagle for clarity

And seeks to define herself in "A Case of You,"

Oh I am a lonely painter, I live in a box of paints

Unfrightened by the devil

and I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid

And urges us to push through difficulties in "Judgement of the Moon and Stars,"

You've got to shake your fists at lightning now
You've got to roar like forest fire
You've got to spread your light like blazes
All across the sky

And defines love in the aptly named "Love,"

Love never looks for love
Love's not puffed up
Or envious
Or touchy
Because it rejoices in the truth
Not in iniquity
Love sees like a child sees

 

Joni's title song from her 1991 album, "Night Ride Home," is performed outdoors in this next clip from Amsterdam and captures her divinely pure form.

Can you imagine? $12.50 to see Joni Mitchell?

While she wrote the song "Woodstock,"
Joni did not perform at the legendary '69 festival because she was booked to appear on "The Dick Cavett Show" the day after the close of the concert.  She penned the song as an ode not only to those who were there but to those who wished they were.  Images that resonate most for me are Joni's haunting lone performances of the classic song as a third encore in 1983 at the Mann.  The silenced crowd soaked in her smooth, thoughtful rendering as she meandered on stage. Joni delivered the final line of "Woodstock," strolled across the empty stage playing the closing melody, and then sauntered out of sight, keeping us spellbound as she continued, unseen, to play her guitar. This conclusion left us with a lasting sigh as the sonorous guitar playing lingered in the summer night air. It was a moment of pure satisfaction. 

I remember watching the 2008 Grammy Awards and hearing the Album of the Year award going to Herbie Hancock's "River: The Joni Letters."  I jumped up from my chair and clapped with girlish delight. Joni's songwriting is the foundation for the album's collection of guest artist performances and the award was another reminder that her music continues to be relevant.

My daughter, Ali, has a weekly radio show at college and, each week, I faithfully submit Joni song titles that fit the show's theme. Of course, there are always songs that fill the bill. Every once in a long while Ali indulges me and plays a Joni melody.  It is a lovely victory.

When asked who my favorite musical artists are, it is funny to think about my immediate reply: Joni Mitchell and Barbra Streisand. I may as well say peanut butter and riesling as my answer.  What could these artists possibly have in common aside from the fact they rose in popularity at the same time?  I think their singular musical talents show harmonic passion at the highest level. This is the thread that coils around my heart and makes me a fan. 

 As for the current crop of singers/songwriters, I love Regina Spektor's original style and lyrics. After seeing her perform locally twice, I plan on being in her audience any time she comes through Philly.  Her authentic sound meets the Joni litmus test for me.

Joni's songwriting will always warm the piece of me that yearns for exquisite expression.   

Happy Birthday, Roberta Joan Anderson. I hope the seasons continue to go round and round for you. 

*UPDATE 07/24/22: The stars aligned at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival when the final performance - cheekily titled "Coyote Jam" on the daily festival schedule board - turned into the grandest surprise of the iconic festival - Joni's first performance since she had a brain aneurysm in 2015. 

And thankfully, I was standing 20 feet from the stage with my concert buddy and daughter, Alison. (Our third visit to the Fort together)

I had resigned myself seven years ago that I would probably never see her perform again. To that end, in November 2021, Ali and I saw Brandi Carlile perform the entire album "Blue" in its 50th anniversary year at Carnegie Hall in New York City. It was a glorious way to celebrate Joni. I was grateful.

And then came the shock of Newport! I underestimated Joni's power of rebirth, a mistake I refuse to make again. 

When Brandi Carlile made the unbelievable introduction and Joni sauntered with support onto a stage set up to replicate her living room at home - my wish came true. I was seeing, hearing, and breathing the same air as my musical North Star - Joni Mitchell.

Sharing this moment with Ali sweetened everything forever. 

The performance began with some favorite musical artists (Lucius, Celisse, Marcus Mumford, Taylor Goldsmith, et al) surrounding Joni and playing drums, and guitars, and singing with her as Brandi lovingly guided the group, replicating star-studded 'Joni Jams' that had been taking place once a month in Joni's California living room for several years. 

Joni sang "Summertime" solo and we heard her deep, sonorous, timbre. That song was made for her. Joni and the gang dove further into her song catalog, along with some favorites from other artists, and incredibly she even played "Just Like This Train" on her guitar - solo! Sassy girl! 

Here is the setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/joni-mitchell/2022/fort-adams-state-park-newport-ri-7bb23eb4.html

For 40 minutes, I tried to be fully present and to control my grateful tears so this moment would be honored accordingly.  I did an okay job. 

Joni performing at Newport Folk filled my heart, my soul, and my teenage discovery of her music. 

A twenty/thirty something young man stood on the other side of me and we shared how we came to love Joni. It pleased me endlessly to hear that he bought the vinyl copy of "Blue" in his late teens and understood what all the hype was about. His age, his sex, and his sensibilities reaffirmed that Joni' music resonates with e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e.  

Anthony Mason's (of CBS) report captures the moment:   https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/JjFu1NYaroqi83zjF_6s5YcfhkpN_dqd/

Thank you Joni.  

Thank you Brandi. 

Thank you Jay Sweet & Newport Folk Festival. 

Thank you to all that is good in the Universe. 

Thank you Ali for asking a few years ago, " Hey Mom, you wanna go to Newport Folk?" 

Folk on...

Here is a photo and two videos I took.

Finale: So much love for Joni.

Her "solo" in "Love Potion Number Nine" floored us all! 

A snippet of "Just Like This Train"

And from YouTube:

"Both Sides Now"

For a look at Joni's catalog of work visit: www.jonimitchell.com

For a brief review of the 1979 Robin Hood Dell West concert visit: http://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=887

The You Tube video of "Shadows and Light" and "In France They Kiss On Main Street" was published by Nano63a.

The You Tube video of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" was published by Superunknown373.

The You Tube video of "Night Ride Home" was published by Henhenstoll.