Herbie Hancock - River: The Joni Letters (with Bonus Tracks) - Amazon.com Exclusive
|
List Price: Our Price: $12.99 You Save: $5.99 (32%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $11.98 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for River: The Joni Letters (with Bonus Tracks) - Amazon.com Exclusive
Free Music Review: human
Hit: 5 Stars
It is a hot, sweet and deeply emotional music - very human.
The music you play at home late in the evening.
Free Music Review: AN EXQUISITE AND RARE EXPERIENCE
Hit: 5 Stars
Mr. Herbie Hancock is one of our divine jazz legends and to experience an adventure in the land of his music, all while also experiencing the beauty of the other artists on the Safari and their glorious gifts. This is nothing less than simply FANTASTIC AND FABULOUS. Enjoy the Safari you are about to go on with this CD. CD also = Charming and Delightful. Free Music Review: The river runs deep...
Hit: 5 Stars
In 2005, Herbie Hancock released "Possibilities", an album of collaborations with acts as diverse as Joss Stone, Angelique Kidjo, Paul Simon, Damien Rice, and Sting to mention a few. Though jazz purists were peeved (much like they were with "Rockit"), I loved it (especially Damien Rice's killer version of Billie Holiday's "Don't explain"). The album was nominated for 2 Grammys of which it won neither.
Fast forward two years, and Herbie returned with "River: The Joni letters", comprising mainly jazz interpretations of Joni Mitchell tracks, with guest vocals by Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza, Leonard Cohen, and Joni herself. With a largely uncommercial sound, and sprawling pieces, most clocking way past the 7 minute mark, it surprisingly garnered 3 Grammy nominations including one for album of the year.
Well, we all know how it caused a major Grammy upset by taking the album of the year trophy from under the noses of Kanye West, and Amy Winehouse (who had won everything else she was nominated for) becoming only the second Jazz album to ever win in that category, as well as the Grammy for best contemporary jazz album. It also gave Herbie his first ever US top 10 album.
So, what's the album like? Like I stated earlier, sprawling, richly textured pieces with lilting percussion, bass, tenor sax (by Wayne Shorter), Herbie's magical tinkling of the ivories, and the tempo ranging from slow to extra slow. It is interesting to note that both Hancock and Wayne Shorter collaborated with Joni Mitchell on her Jazz album "Mingus" almost 30 years ago.
I was especially curious to hear what Tina Turner would sound like as she had declared an aversion for jazz and standards in the past, but she really sounds at home on her contribution "Edith and the kingpin". "The jungle line" features Rock and Roll hall of famer Leonard Cohen's dark and sinister narration (poetry-like) against Herbie's spare but sweeping piano backdrop.
The gently shuffling "Court and spark" features Norah Jones, the lovely "River" features Corinne Bailey Rae (giving a breathless delivery), "Tea leaf prophecy features Joni Mitchell, her age-lowered dusky voice perfectly fitting this interpretation (I love the bass and percussion on this one), and the haunting "Amelia" features Luciana Souza. The remaining four tracks are instrumentals with Wayne Shorter's sax solos providing the verses; "Both sides now" (nominated for best jazz instrumental solo), "Sweet bird", "Solitude", and "Nefertiti" (a Wayne Shorter composition with great sax and cascading piano sounds), perfect for a candle lit evening.
Having never heard the originals, I had nothing to compare it to, but I quite like it and find the album to be classy and intimate. I find it fitting that after years of experimenting and going against the grain, Herbie finally gets his dues.
Free Music Review: Exceptional
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm not one for writing reviews. In fact, this is my second so far but I just had to write something about this CD. In particular, if you buy this cd for nothing else get it for HH's take on Edith and the Kingpin. This is a mind blowing track and one that I dare any conniseour of Jazz music not to like. It's just an exceptionally mind blowing track. Tina T's singing is absolutely brilliant and HH just flows alongside with great synergy. This is my obvious standout track but all the tracks on the CD ooze sophistication and maturity. I take my hat off to Herbie for this marvellous achievement. Very deserving of the Grammy. Go out and get it. Seriously, you won't be disappointed.
Thanks Herbie!
Free Music Review: Well deserving of the Grammy
Hit: 5 Stars
I've been a huge Herbie Hancock fan for years but have been a little disappointed with his 21st century output so far. I finally gave up on him after the dire 2005 album Possibilities. (I mean, come on. Christina Aguilera? Joss Stone? Really?). Anyway, as much as I love anything by the iconic Joni Mitchell, I didn't even look twice at this tribute album until it shocked everyone - including Herbie himself, it seemed - by snatching the 2008 Album of the Year Grammy away from people like Kanye West, who, as usual, assumed that it was his for the taking, and from Amy Winehouse, who seemed genuinely surprised that she'd been allowed to win anything at all. I was thinking two things as I placed my order: one, it's about time a jazz album won that award; and two, let's see if the album lives up to the accolade. The sound clips were promising enough but you just never know. Especially with jazz.
Personally, I think it does. It's absolutely stunning and Hancock obviously put it together with a lot of love, care and respect for Mitchell and her music. He only plays piano on this one and as brilliant as I think he is on electric piano, mini-moog, vocoder and all those other gizmos he uses so well, personally, I love Hancock's sound best when he's on regular grand piano. It's all very mellow, all very coffeehouse, but this is no smooth jazz album by any means. Hancock totally ups his game as he's joined by other legends like Wayne Shorter on soprano and tenor sax, Dave Holland & producer Larry Klein on bass, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Lionel Loueke & Dean Parks on guitar and Paulinho Da Costa on percussion. Able vocal support is lent by Norah Jones ("Court and Spark"), Tina Turner ("Edith and the Kingpin"), Corrine Bailey Rae ("River"), Luciana Souza ("Amelia"), Leonard Cohen (spoken word on "The Jungle Line") and from Lady Mitchell herself on "Tea Leaf Prophecy". All songs are written or co-written by Mitchell, except for the Duke Ellington tune "Solitude" and Wayne Shorter's classic "Nefertiti".
I'm really happy I picked this one up and I'm obviously glad Hancock won the Grammy as I might not have picked it up otherwise. Definitely his best work in a long while and well deserving of the award - in my opinion, of course.
PS. I highly recommend this Amazon.com 'Exclusive Special Edition' of the album because the two bonus tracks; the instrumental "A Case of You" and "All I Want", featuring a brilliant vocal performance by Sonya Kitchell (on probably the most Mitchell-esque song on here), are both well worth it.