If I had a transporter, tonight I'd go to the Hollywood Bowl, where a jaw-dropping lineup of jazz greats will perform "Joni's Jazz," a program of jazz-based songs by Joni Mitchell.
I've been in love with Joni since I first heard "Chelsea Morning," or maybe it was "Blue Boy" or "Big Yellow Taxi" or "Woodstock" or "Conversation" or "River" (so sad!) or "A Case of You," one of the greatest love songs of all time ("I could drink a case of you/And still be on my feet"--check out Prince's version sometime).
That floating, ethereal voice. Those otherworldly guitar tunings.
And then there's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" from the Mingus album she credits with "kicking her out of the game."
Imagine a concert of Joni's music, arranged by Brian Blade and Jon Cowherd, performed by Herbie Hancock, Kurt Elling, Aimee Mann, Chaka Khan, Wayne Shorter, Cassandra Wilson, Tom Scott, Mark Isham, Blade, Cowherd, Glen Hansard (The Frames), and more. Tonight, 7:30 p.m. To include The Hissing of Summer Lawns in its entirety.
Joni will not perform. Will she be in the house? What will Kurt sing?