FUN GUITARIST PROFILE: JONI MITCHELL!

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Here's a fun post. A personal favorite of mine and a singer with an angelic voice, I was smitten with Joni Mitchell's jacket cover from the CD "For the Roses". A world-wise and sophisticated singer/songwriter, she has paved the way for many artists today ranging from Jewel to Patti Smith, Suzanne Vega, Joan Armetrading and Bjork.

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Born in Canada, Joni toured the coffee house circuits of Toronto and later New York before David Crosby produced her first effort, "Songs to a Seagull". This was followed up by "Clouds" (an excellent painter who has featured her work in exhibitions, Joni has also created most of her album covers), "Ladies of the Canyon", "Blue" (which many artists cite as the seminal CD of her vast collection with it's stark and personal lyrics. Kris Kristofferson cautioned her after its release, "Jesus Joan, hold back a little"). This was followed up with "For the Roses", "Court and Spark" (spawning the hit single "Help Me") the live dual LP "Miles of Aisles", and then a magical foray into jazz that became fused with Joni's folk music began to surface in "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" , the excellent "Hejira", "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" and the tragically overlooked "Mingus" ---all featuring great guests such as Bassist Jaco Pastorius, Guitarist Pat Metheny, Saxophonist Wayne Shorter and horn player Tom Scott with The L.A. Express. A rugged individualist, Joni has always resisted the trappings of commercialism and boldly risked alienating her folk audience as she continued to explore Jazz. But she stayed true to herself and another "Live" double LP called "Shadows and Light" emerged (later with a DVD). Her hit "Woodstock" was borne out of irony. She was booked on TV's "The Dick Cavett Show" and thus had to miss attending the famed 1969 Music & Arts Festival (though she saw her friends David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash off at the airport). After watching the events of the Festival play out on a hotel TV set, she immediately penned the song that made it's way onto Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's' CD "Deja Vu" and it became a smash hit.

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Known for her interesting guitar tunings, a cool example is her song "Coyote" (from "Hejira"). Joni uses a C11 tuning, by lowering the sixth string to a C, the fifth to a G, the third to an F and raising the second string to a C. She's a delightful artist whom friends describe as down to earth, in addition to enjoying a good game of pool!

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Sampling of Hits: Chelsea Morning, Big Yellow Taxi, Woodstock, The Circle Game, Carey, California, You Turn Me On I'm A Radio, Raised On Robbery, Help Me, Free Man In Paris, River, Jericho, Love or Money, A Case of You, Real Good for Free, The Last Time I Saw Richard, Both Sides Now.

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