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Epicurus.com - River: The Joni Letters (with Bonus Tracks) - Amazon.com Exclusive
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List Price: $18.98
Our Price: $12.99
Your Save: $ 5.99 ( 32% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Verve
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0602517477544
Format: Special Edition
Label: Verve
Manufacturer: Verve
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Verve
Release Date: 2007-09-25
Studio: Verve
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Editorial Reviews:
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On paper, River sounds like a match made in several versions of heaven. Legendary pianist Herbie Hancock re-imagines Joni Mitchell with his hand-picked, star-studded band--including saxophonist Wayne Shorter--in tow. Luminary guests lend vocals to a song apiece: Norah Jones ("Court and Spark"), Tina Turner ("Edith and the Kingpin"), Corinne Bailey Rae ("River"), Luciana Souza ("Amelia"), Leonard Cohen (with an unsettlingly sanguine version of "The Jungle Line"), even Mitchell herself ("Tea Leaf Prophecy"). In the event, though, a few fundamental elements go awry. Hancock plays with almost saccharine understatement throughout, and even Shorter's seminal "Nefertiti" and Duke Ellington's "Solitude" fall into the album's presiding, somnolent surface, though to a lesser degree does the instrumental version of Mitchell's "Sweet Bird." But girding, and in some measure, saving, the proceedings, the lyrics here testify to a subtler wisdom guiding Hancock's set list. The mix includes a continuum from intrepid classics to dusty, fans-only fare, but a distinct reverence for Joni Mitchell the Poet threads them together, and, in the end, this album works best as a sleepy window into one fan's giddy and particular love affair with his source material. Fans of Hancock win out. --Jason Kirk
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Herbie Hancock-River the joni letters
Comment: It was pleasure listening to this CD. The music is wonderful.A must have for all lovers of jazz.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Comment: I am a big Joni Mitchell fan and I would think that Herbie Hancock did her proud. The fact that she herself is featured on the cd attests to that. The selection of vocalists covering her songs is perfect. Nora Jones did a fine rendition of Court and Spark and I am so impressed with Tina Turner in Edith and the Kingpin. I manage a retail flooring and decorating showroom and I play all my favorite cd's for customer's listening pleasure throughout the day. I have had several people comment on this cd when it plays. "Great music," one woman said as she hummed along. It would make for lovely dinner music too. In my opinion, it's perfectly produced and arranged.
Customer Rating:
Summary: a very moving, worthwhile purchase
Comment: Love Love Love this man's music. Great for driving, musing, or back ground music.
3horses
Calgary, Alberta
Customer Rating:
Summary: Someone young who appreciates aged artistry
Comment: In response to another review, this IS written by a 20-something who appreciates both these artists.I've been listening to Joni since I was a little kid. My mom had stacks of records that we, as children, would listen to over and over again. Joni Mitchell, thankfully, was in the pile. I have grown to love her music and, more importantly, lyrics since those first childhood rainy afternoon sessions. And having listened equally to the local library's jazz album collections, Herbie Hancock is also in the top ten of my personal jazz favorites list.
If you love the stylings of Herbie and Joni's musical sensibility, you will enjoy this album. As a tribute to JM by HH, I really enjoyed this cd. I would love to see future collaborations. I think it could have done with better selection of the other artists covering the vocal tracks, with the exception of Tina Turner. Whereas Tina Turner brought out the soul of the lyrics, Corinne Bailey Ray did a lousy job. I love that song, but this rendition is so bad I skip the track.
Here's to bringing great/timeless music to younger generations and I hope to see another album from the two of them again!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Old Head Music
Comment: I don't know what this music sounds like to someone who is 25. I have been listening to Herbie and Joni for 35 years, and for me this collection celebrates each one's artistry. Maybe you need to be a fan of both to really appreciate this; I'm delighted to hear Joni as interpreted by Herbie Hancock. Herbie Hancock! The collection of brilliant guest vocalists is icing on the cake. Pour a martini, shut out the world, and drink in this rich reading of Joni's compositions.
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