Includes a new recording with vocals by Tina "Edith and the Kingpin"

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Product Description

'River' is an album of Joni Mitchell's work reinterpreted by jazz legend Herbie Hancock. Produced by Hancock and Larry Klein, the album features a plethora of guest vocalists, including Norah Jones, Tina Turner and Joni Mitchell herself. Includes the tracks 'Court And Spark', 'Edith And The Kingpin' and 'Sweet Bird'.

Track Listing

1. Court And Spark - Herbie Hancock, Norah Jones
2. Edith And The Kingpin - Herbie Hancock, Tina Turner
3. Both Sides Now - Herbie Hancock
4. River - Herbie Hancock, Corinne Bailey Rae
5. Sweet Bird - Herbie Hancock
6. The Tea Leaf Prophecy (Lay Down Your Arms) - Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell
7. Solitude - Herbie Hancock
8. Amelia - Herbie Hancock, Luciana Souza
9. Nefertiti - Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter
10. The Jungle Line - Herbie Hancock, Leonard Cohen

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2630 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 68 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
On paper, River sounds like a match made in several versions of heaven. Legendary pianist Herbie Hancock re-imagines Joni Mitchell with his hand-picked, star-studded band--including saxophonist Wayne Shorter--in tow. Luminary guests lend vocals to a song apiece: Norah Jones ("Court and Spark"), Tina Turner ("Edith and the Kingpin"), Corinne Bailey Rae ("River"), Luciana Souza ("Amelia"), Leonard Cohen (with an unsettlingly sanguine version of "The Jungle Line"), even Mitchell herself ("Tea Leaf Prophecy"). In the event, though, a few fundamental elements go awry. Hancock plays with almost saccharine understatement throughout, and even Shorter's seminal "Nefertiti" and Duke Ellington's "Solitude" fall into the album's presiding, somnolent surface, though to a lesser degree does the instrumental version of Mitchell's "Sweet Bird." But girding, and in some measure, saving, the proceedings, the lyrics here testify to a subtler wisdom guiding Hancock's set list. The mix includes a continuum from intrepid classics to dusty, fans-only fare, but a distinct reverence for Joni Mitchell the Poet threads them together, and, in the end, this album works best as a sleepy window into one fan's giddy and particular love affair with his source material. Fans of Hancock win out. --Jason Kirk

Daily Telegraph, Seven
"truly inspired"

The Guardian
"sublime stuff"

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Customer Reviews

Utter rubbish..
I bought this album because I love all things Joni and loved her 'mingus' period and have always been a longstanding Herbie fan. I thought it may be something in that style. How wrong I was. This is the worst kind of Jazz there is. Utterly pointless and usually bears no relation at all to the original song. What's the point of re-doing a song if it's going to have only a 1% similarity or reference to the original? It's a great lesson in how 2 things that you think are great may not be that great together!
Move along. Nothing to see here...

Probably not for the casual fan
I would describe myself as a casual fan of Joni. I like the Tom Scott albums and "Shadows and Light" with Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius. This album, however, is a bit "heavier" and probably deserves more careful listening and analysis than using it as background music.

Hancocks fans Rave & Joni Mitchell's fans Let down?
Not being a Joni listener I can only give my opinion based on the Hancock versions. I have listened to this album so many times and I just love every moment. I've been lucky enough to see Herbie perform and he manages to bring his fabulous dynamic jazz improv style to this selection of music. The vocalists though famous names pull off some unique songs unlike their mainstream styles. Most notable for me being Tina Turners "Edith & the Kingpin" it's so layed back but the silky smooth soul just oozes out! Someone who doesn't like jazz may call it all elevator music but for those of us that do and like listening to more complex dynamic arrangements this album is a modern jazz classic. The recording is beautifully executed from the subtle reed vibrations to the rumbling grand piano. Hancock should be very proud of this album, he never seems to lose his creative spark...and I hope he never will :-)
I only hope it comes out on SACD!?