Hejira - a Celebration Of Joni Mitchell

“I had the pleasure of seeing the band live at Peggy’s Skylight – they were absolutely stunning. It takes special musicians to fill the shoes of Pastorious, Metheney et al but these guys are top drawer and make it all sound effortless.”
 

‘Hejira’ is a 7-piece band set up to celebrate and honour the masterpiece works of Joni Mitchell, mostly from the late ‘70s. Having released the albums ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’, ‘Hejira’, ‘Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter’ and ‘Mingus’ (regarded as her ‘jazz period’), Joni then toured briefly with a band formed from the crème de la crème of contemporaneous jazz musicians (Metheny, Mays, Brecker, Pastorius and Alias). The tour was recorded, producing the outstanding live album, ‘Shadows And Light’; it is from this album that the band Hejira is drawing the body of its repertoire.

Comprising highly experienced jazz musicians, this band is fronted by the brilliant Hattie Whitehead who not only has – in her own way – assimilated the poise, power and beauty of Joni’s vocals, but also plays guitar with Joni’s stylistic mannerisms. Expect an evening of the ‘great’ songs from Mitchell’s back catalogue, such as ‘Amelia’, ‘Woodstock’, & ‘A Case Of You’, ’Song For Sharon’, & ‘Edith And The Kingpin’ etc.

Lineup
Hattie Whitehead – vocals & guitar
Ollie Weston – tenor & soprano saxophones
Chris Eldred – keyboards
Pete Oxley – guitar
Dave Jones – bass
Rick Finlay – drums
Marc Cecil – percussion

“Good lord that was stunning! To do justice to Joni Mitchell’s incredibly personal and poignant Hejira takes artistry, taste and serious chops. What a fabulous band, what a fabulous singer!”