Joni Mitchell: River

[jazzygal karla]

Saw a production today put on by the Alberta Theatre Projects that I really enjoyed.

Created by Allen MacInnis, 'Joni Mitchell: River' is a theatrical presentation of 28 of Joni's songs. MacInnis himself calls it a ' "theatrical concert", because it has no dialogue, yet [they] are creating a kind of narrative with the songs."

MacInnis further says he "wasn't trying to tell Joni Mitchell's story. This show was inspired by the genuis of her writing".

The three-person ensemble that performed the tunes were entertaining and energetic, subdued and melancholy as each individual song dictated.

They were backed up by a great band of players, one of whom needed to be extremely familiar with Joni's 'open tunings', and required the use of 18 guitars. Yes. The dude switched guitars between numbers 18 times.

If any of you happen to live in a city that takes up this production, I recommend it highly. (But than again, a Joni-phile like me would say that, wouldn't she?)

And the 7th, incidentally, was/is Joni's birthday, too!