Joni Mitchell Jazz Tribute Concert Saturday In Newtown

You probably know Joni Mitchell as a folk singer, activist, and writer of such classics as "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock." But a group of talented area musicians is dedicated to playing her acclaimed and equally beloved jazz albums. The group is celebrating Joni's upcoming birthday with a concert Saturday night at the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown.

Leslie Ballard, who handles vocals and flute for the band Joni Mitchell's Jazz, reached out to me and said,

Joni almost died of a brain aneurysm in 2015, and when the news broke referring to her as "70s Folk singer Joni Mitchell" we were dismayed. What a minimization of her vast talent.

 

The 7 members of JONI MITCHELL'S JAZZ represent a tiny number of musicians and fans who know better.

 

We're thrilled to be celebrating Joni's 70th birthday (which is November 7), with a concert of her own arrangements of her hits at Edmond Town Hall on Saturday October 13.

The performance will feature her arrangements from her biggest albums (Miles of Aisles, Shadows & Light, and Court & Spark) from the 80s and 90s. Joni worked with jazz greats like Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, and Tom Scott to create these arrangements of her hits.

Along with Leslie, the band includes keyboardist Chris Martirano, drummer Roger Post, percussionist Matt Spencer, Steve Zerlin on bass, Steve Moran on saxophone and guitarist George Lesiw.

The concert starts at 8 PM. Tickets are $20, but if you order them online before 1PM on Saturday and use the code my95 at checkout, you can get them for $15. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Edmond Town Hall restoration.