River: The Joni Letters (with Bonus Tracks) - Amazon.com Exclusive

Herbie Hancock takes classic Joni Mitchell tunes and makes them his own. Who knew that it would work so well? My favorite track is Court and Spark featuring Norah Jones on vocals. This is spell-binding. I heard this track on a plane, and immediately ordered the album. The rest of it is not quite as breath-taking, but well worth it, especially if you like jazz, and grew up on Joni Mitchell.

Herbie Hancock is one jazz pianist/composer who needs no introduction for when it comes to jazz music, his name always pops up and never goes unnoticed. He has recorded quite a number of jazz albums as a leader most notably his wonderful tribute to the timeless standards of George and Ira Gershwin entitled Gershwin's World. And not to mention his projects as a sideman to many jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Bobby Hutcherson, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter and Grant Green, to name but a few. For the record, he is one of the most honored jazz artists of all-time in terms of Grammy Awards, Academy Awards and other prestigious music awards.

"River: The Joni Letters" was recorded in 2007 under a prestigious jazz recording company, Verve Records. It is the winner for 2008 Grammy Awards for the most coveted "Album of the Year." So for fans of Herbie Hancock, this tribute recording to Joni Mitchell is a must-listen if they want to discover why it is an award-winning-album.

Here he is supported by some of the finest musicians in the jazz world namely: Wayne Shorter (soprano and tenor saxophone), Dave Holland (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and Lionel Loueke (guitar). For a variety of vocal stylists, he has invited Joni Mitchell on "Tea Leaf Prophecy," Tina Turner on "Edith and the Kingpin," Norah Jones on "Court and Spark," Corinne Bailey Rae on "River," Luciana Souza on "Amelia" and Leonard Cohen on "The Jungle Line." To better experience and appreciate Mr. Hancock's piano artistry, listen closely to the purely instrumental ones: "Solitude," "Both Sides Now," "Nefertiti" and "Sweet Bird." The ingenious arrangements on all the tracks are written by Larry Klein and Herbie Hancock himself.

Jazz fans will surely enjoy Herbie Hancock's artistry on this winning album. For big fans of Mr. Hancock who are completists, it's a must-have.

Hail hail hail to the victors valiant hail hail Michigan
There once was an time which many of you do not remember long ago before "8 tracks or Casingles" when Analog was king and vacuum tubes would amplify phonographic audio. Thought i would try some new music from Herbie Hancock on my wooden furniture. It still does its thing ! the groove really is groovy with great quality. Only problem is that no one on this side of the pond is printing vynil (I hade to get this from europe).

I think the title of my review says it all. Herbie Hancock is a brilliant pianist, but his output since the 70s has been terrible. It's like he isn't capable of playing beautiful music anymore and he can't swing anymore. This recording is just pure, unadulterated garbage. Why Herbie continues to record with vocalists is beyond me.

Everything about this album bothers me. It's like a bad orange, each layer you peel back the worst it becomes. Herbie should just do everyone a favor and go back to playing bebop, because that's what he was best at doing. He has proven time and time again that he can't do albums like these.

Anyone interested in hearing Herbie play music check out "Takin Off," "Empryean Isles," "Maiden Voyage," or "Speak Like A Child."

Jazz fans stay away from this one, it stinks!

After being pleasantly surprised by Hancock's collaborations on "Possibilities," I was very disappointed is this effort, especially since I bought it after the Grammy's were announced. High expectations dissipated soon after the first track, as the album plods along and halts to a screatch with some rendetions, which are unrecognizable compared to Mitchell's originals. There are virtually no upbeat moments on this CD save for the title track, and the the dense arrangements require the listener to struggle to hear the sweet spot. Save your money on the CD and download one or two tracks instead. I'm headed for the nearest CD exchange store.

If you enjoy Joni Mitchell & some soft jazz, you're going to love this album.

I bought this on the strength of Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter being great favourites of mine for over 30 years, and I really like Joni Mitchell's "Hissing of Summer Lawns", from which this set takes it's best track (Edith and the Kingpin). Tina Turner is in superb form.

It is a very disappointing set. It's well played, but never sparks.
I cannot see how it deserves a 'Grammy' award.

I don't get the point of the Leonard Cohen monologue at all.

Get the Joni Mitchell album. It's far superior to this offering.

To tell the truth ,I wasn't expecting that much from this album. To me, Joni Mitchell's songs in the original form are hard to top. I haven't even been very impressed with her own recent covers of her classic work. So I put off getting this until recently. I am happy to report that for the most part this CD exceeded my expectations. First of all, I love the downtime mood of the proceedings. Herbie was creating an album, not just a collection of tunes. The pacing and order was well thought out, as was the choice of tunes, covering some of her more well known compositions, yet sprinkling in a few more obscure offerings. The arrangements are creative, often adding unexpected harmonic twists that place the album further into jazz territory than their original counterparts, but without compromising the integrity of the melodies or lyrics.

Many of the players on the CD had some prior association with Joni. Herbie,Vinnie Coliauta, and the great Wayne Shorter have all made appearances on her records and really understand how to accompany a singer. I have read reviews criticizing Shorter's performances on this CD and I couldn't disagree more strongly. Wayne is playing off the lyrics as he has done with Milton Nascimento and Ms Mitchell herself. His angular short flurries of notes are part of his signature style. The fact that he has become a sort of minimalist should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed his career in recent years.

This is a well arranged, fresh and probing take on Mitchell's oeuvre. Nora Jones sounds great on Court and Spark. And as mentioned in other reviews, Tina Turner delivers a definitive interpretation of Edith and the Kingpin. Made me want to break out Hissing of Summer Lawns" again, one of Mitchell's most underrated album. Herbie must agree as he also covers The Jungle Line" although this is in my opinion the least successful track. Leonard Cohen's straight reading of the lyric as a spoken word doesn't work and is the one track I always skip. Come to think about it, it was also my least favorite track on Hissing.

This edition with the bonus tracks is the one to get. Although not as adventurous as the rest of the covers , Sonya's Kitchell's covers of All I want and A case of You round out the proceedings most agreeably.
Overall all, I highly recommend the album. It is far and away the best Joni Mitchell tribute out there and yields some surprisingly deep musical moments along the way.

River: The Joni Letters is a surprising album for me. As more of a fan of Herbie's older works, I am very happy to hear some of the musical directions that were chosen here. In some regards, this is both a return to Herbie's core strengths as well as an exploration of something new. When it comes to Mr. Hancock, why should any of us be surprised by that.

There are some Joni Mitchel purists who may not appreciate or enjoy all of the choices made by Herbie. For my part, I am willing to accept that different artists can approach material differently and both approaches may have value.

For those who have a love for modern jazz and have limited familiarity with Joni's songs, this is really the perfect way to be introduced to the material.

Enjoy.

Grew up impressed with Herbie Hancock. Grew up loving Joni Mitchell. Was fascinated by the concept of this but sadly disappointed with the result. Too much dominance of LA music studio in the sound track; too much self-absorbed ennui in the vocals. Maybe I've just gotten old, or the '60's have finally caught up with me (in a good way), but this CD just schmoozes too much of what I have to coin, Hollywood Hip Eco-Cool.

Super CD I will be using it in my Arts and Humanities class this fall.

Herbie Hancock is a genius. The sound engineer who did this CD is a genius. Together, they created something that sounds like they are in my listening room. They are simply there! The music is perfect, chords like nowhere else.

A terrific CD, although the early songs didn't quite hook me the first time I listened to this CD. Once I got to "Sweet Bird", however, I was loving it. While the first few songs are good, the second half of the CD is definitely better than the first.

This is a very fine CD with Joni Mitchell songs rendered by various artists, including Joni and Herbie. I've had it about a month and listen to it about once a day, average. Buy it, it's worth every penny!

This CD was a wonderful surprise to me. I was expecting more of a pop feel and was pleasantly surprised by how improvisational it was. Norah Jones' gorgeous take on "Court and Spark" is beautifully realized and extremely haunting. I enjoyed Tina Turner's version of "Edith," as well. There's much here to absorb...especially for jazz fans. Others would find this material difficult to penetrate. It's so nice that it won the Grammy. It's a deep and rather dark musical journey, but well worth it. Lovely.

On his latest album "River: The Joni Letters", the phenomenal jazz pianist and composer reinterprets the soulful poetry of Joni Mitchell's lyrics.The good news is that his homage to Joni Mitchell digs deeper, with the help of cameo appearances from Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Corinne Bailey Rae, Leonard Cohen and Mitchell herself
With some starry guest vocalists, Hancock pastes a selection of Mitchell tunes, plus standards, on to a high-octane ensemble (including Wayne Shorter, bassist Dave Holland, on-his-way guitarist Lionel Loueke and Vinnie Colaiuta, the drummer who grew up in Fayette County), that aspires to the zeniths of the mid-1960s Miles Davis quintet.
Sublime stuff, but you can't help feeling that it subsumes Mitchell's musical signature.
The best tracks are those where the vocal performances are strong enough to balance out the improvisation: Tina Turner steals the show with her magisterial "Edith and the Kingpin", but all the other guests sit comfortably alongside the pianist and the band : Joni Mitchell's own "Tea Leaf Prophecy"; Leonard Cohen's weird but brilliant recitation of "The Jungle Line", accompanied by Hancock's peerless acoustic piano, Corinne Bailey Rae, who sings the title track "River", Brazilian jazz singer Luciana Sousa's elegant "Amelia".
In many ways, this album of mostly Joni Mitchell songs embodies what jazz is all about. Great personnel, songs and interpretations make this album a delight.
He may have one of the most distinguished Curriculum Vitae in jazz, yet there has been a jarring tone to some of Herbie Hancock's outings: not so much music-making as upmarket product placement.
The best vocal numbers show how much there is to be gained from the union of improv and intelligent pop.
Herbie Hancock provides strikingly fine piano work, but does it without insisting on showing virtuoso bits of flash. If fact, his support to saxophonist Wayne Shorter on "Court and Spark" perhaps shows his genius more than anything. He also gets great credit for his interpretations of these songs, which take Mitchell's pop classics and turn them into solid jazz numbers.
His version of "Both Sides Now" shows only harmonic ties to the familiar song but is a great display of the instrumental musicians. Just to add a different touch, the band also does a great version of Shorter's "Nefertiti" and Duke Ellington's "Solitude".

It was pleasure listening to this CD. The music is wonderful.A must have for all lovers of jazz.

I am a big Joni Mitchell fan and I would think that Herbie Hancock did her proud. The fact that she herself is featured on the cd attests to that. The selection of vocalists covering her songs is perfect. Nora Jones did a fine rendition of Court and Spark and I am so impressed with Tina Turner in Edith and the Kingpin. I manage a retail flooring and decorating showroom and I play all my favorite cd's for customer's listening pleasure throughout the day. I have had several people comment on this cd when it plays. "Great music," one woman said as she hummed along. It would make for lovely dinner music too. In my opinion, it's perfectly produced and arranged.

Love Love Love this man's music. Great for driving, musing, or back ground music.
3horses
Calgary, Alberta

In response to another review, this IS written by a 20-something who appreciates both these artists.I've been listening to Joni since I was a little kid. My mom had stacks of records that we, as children, would listen to over and over again. Joni Mitchell, thankfully, was in the pile. I have grown to love her music and, more importantly, lyrics since those first childhood rainy afternoon sessions. And having listened equally to the local library's jazz album collections, Herbie Hancock is also in the top ten of my personal jazz favorites list.


If you love the stylings of Herbie and Joni's musical sensibility, you will enjoy this album. As a tribute to JM by HH, I really enjoyed this cd. I would love to see future collaborations. I think it could have done with better selection of the other artists covering the vocal tracks, with the exception of Tina Turner. Whereas Tina Turner brought out the soul of the lyrics, Corinne Bailey Ray did a lousy job. I love that song, but this rendition is so bad I skip the track.

Here's to bringing great/timeless music to younger generations and I hope to see another album from the two of them again!

I don't know what this music sounds like to someone who is 25. I have been listening to Herbie and Joni for 35 years, and for me this collection celebrates each one's artistry. Maybe you need to be a fan of both to really appreciate this; I'm delighted to hear Joni as interpreted by Herbie Hancock. Herbie Hancock! The collection of brilliant guest vocalists is icing on the cake. Pour a martini, shut out the world, and drink in this rich reading of Joni's compositions.

...I would have given it 5 stars. As a jazz-rooted sax player myself, not of Mr. Shorter's experience *by far*, I am almost disgusted by his performance on this album. His poor tone and spit-filled musical intrusions are way too far out of the box, even for Jazz of this nature. Playing of this manner gives us all a bad name. I haven't sounded that bad since I was in the 5th grade (approaching 30 years ago)... that's an honest, un-biased opinion.

I almost worship Mr. Hancock, and I bear no ill-will toward him for the production of this album. I am sorry to say that this one is going to sit on the shelf for quite some time.

Otherwise, the entire album is STELLAR, and one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. Mr. Hancock chose the right vocalists for every track. And his playing, of course, was just perfectly imperfect, as it should be. Simply a marvelous work, except the sax-playing, of which there is quite a bit.

There's so much going on in this recording that it's hard to gain purchase on the album as a whole. Great to hear Nefertiti brought back with the marvelous Wayne Shorter. I had recently relistened to the Hissing of Summer Lawns where a lot of Joni's later music is prefigured so there is definitely a memory lane aspect to the listening experience. I just don't think it gets much better than this. On the vocals: I love Luciana Souza ("perhaps like a soft brazilian singer"), Corinne Bailey Rae merges and flows with the river, Joni is simply supreme. Wasn't all that thrilled with Norah Jones, though.

And the master himself, Herbie Hancock, who knows how to assemble, blend, step into the foreground when needed, and hang back when that's the thing to do.

I listen to this recording all the time.

I just heard this one track so that is all I'm commenting on. This was absolutely painful - she's sounding happy when she's singing it! Even though I love this song as Mitchell did it, I was open to hearing a different interpretation but this one is total junk.. "I made my baby cry" doesn't really rate a smile in the voice, does it?

Since receiving this album several weeks ago, I have not been able to take it out of my cd player. Herbie lays down the piano tracks like no one else can. Wayne Shorters haunting soprano sax in the background adds texture to the melodies and all of the vocals are right on.
This is the only Grammy album of the year that is deserving of the honor.

A sound abreast of a heart of ZEN is calm and is beautiful.
It seems to be able to totally take in streamflow in the heart.

Two geniuses converge, Joni's music and lyrics interpreted by Herbie's avant garde jazz arrangements. Although not a perfect CD the music is captivating! The vocals here are performed by artists of the highest caliber. The jazz instrumental arrangements are quiet and progressive performed by the very best jazz musicians in the world. Don't pass this music by! If this were an vinyl LP I would have worn it out by now. 'River: The Joni Letters' is the 2007 Grammy-winning album by Herbie Hancock. Who cares about awards? I only care about content! Highly recommended.

After listening I'm truly amazed this record was voted album of the year, not because it's not deserving, but because it's a legit jazz record. Great performances by some of the worlds best jazz musicians of masterworks by one of the true treasures of her generation, Joni Mitchell.

Neither the jazz elements that many have observed in Mitchell's otherwise folk-based explorations nor Hancock's transformations of the songs into impressionistic, improvisatory vehicles are sufficient to assure a jazz classic (not even the inclusion of Duke Ellington's "Solitude" can lend such immortality to the session). Artistic significance aside, the music on the disc is pleasing and palatable, though after the initial curiosity has been sated (can Tina still bring it? can Norah find a fresh groove? can Joni prove Duke's contention that it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing?), there's not a whole lot of motivation to replay the disc. (I wonder how much publicity and attention the album would have gotten had the same production come out under the name of a Bob James or Marsalis.)

The universe of the chameleon-like Hancock is indeed vast and varied, much of it in retrospect as evanescent as the electronic sounds of the day. If I want to hear Herbie play jazz, nothing less than his early days with Miles (last year's "Live at Monterey" or Miles' "My Funny Valentine" concert) will do. But there's a moment on an early Lee Morgan date, "Cornbread," that still stands out among all the others. The song is "Ceora," and Hancock's introduction, though brief, is sublime--as close to perfection as a mortal being, however talented, can get.

Herbie has chosen to aim broad rather than high, and who can blame him, especially after seeing what happens to a Coltrane or Bill Evans after scaling rarefied, vertiginous heights. Face it, most of us would do well to be as youthful, hip, and spry as the perennially cool Hancock at 68.

I'm a professional musician. Along with Tom Scott, I started the group L.A Express in the 70's and performed on Joni Mitchell's albums, Court & Spark, Miles of Aisles, etc. This CD which won the Grammy album of the year is not worth buying. The musical wanderings of Herbie and the almost unrecognizable songs of Joni's are an exercise in musical futility. Herbie needs a tinkle-ectomy and most of the vocalists are totally underwhelming. Obviously, this was a politically motivated choice by NARAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Max Bennett, bassist and composer.

This is one of Herbie's best. He was an old college mate of mine. I was housed over the conservatory and would hear him practice his music endlessly. It is Great!!

Barbara Calloway

I am a fan of HH having over 3000 discs of jazz/classical in my collection ... Hancock deserved the award but not for this project....it should be considered a life achievement award and let it go at that. A few things bothered me...The lack of liner notes/information ...Why these particular songs?How were the pieces and singers selected...did the singers select the pieces or were they assigned the song to perform?Also there are no lyrics listed...no information as to where/when in Joni's long career these pieces were composed. Of the 10 panels included in the disc that could have contained the lyrics and other pertinent information (and perhaps a small photo of Joni) we have instead 5 photos of Hancock....A hymn to him.....
The disc is ok...pleasant music that will go into my play rotation from time to time but not a project worthy of a Grammy.

Not swept away by this effort. I think it was probably true that Kanye West and Amy Winehouse split the vote for Best Album and this squeaked in. I was hoping for more melodic musings. I'm a great Joni M. fan. I'd just as soon listen to the original Court and Spark again.

Don't miss out on this fabulous compilation. Magnificent Hancock, smooth vocals by his chosen guests. Just perfect with a rich cup of coffee on a lazy weekend morning.

I have always liked Herbie Hancock. This pairing with Joni Mitchell is very fine. Beautiful music, creative and enriching.

Any jazz album that is voted the "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" is worth your attention
Herbie Hancock is always a good listen.

I received this CD within a week of my order. I have enjoyed listening to the music.

Hancock really shows his complex side with this CD. He also demonstrates a respect for Joni. Great music, interesting, some very challenging.

A nice tribue to Joni Mitchell done only the way Herbie Handcock could do it. Starting with Laura Jones playing "Court and Spark" you get the sense that this in not only good but good for you.

I had never heard about this CD---prior to the Grammys...but when I saw it announced as the winner --I RAN to AMAZON to get it. I have been a life long Joni Mitchell fan.....and Herbie though not 100 % a fan--I appreciated him as a artist that he is.

This album embodies Joni !! It is soulfull....sad....playful...lyrical...dipping and swaying ......all done by others...but in her style...all the way.

I came to it...I saw it...I bought it..and it is a worthy piece in my library !

This is a wonderful surprise from Mr. Hancock and Joni. I was very fortunate to see both of them (seperate times) in concert and this captured the brilliance of both!

As a longtime fan of Herbie Hannock it was so satisfying to see that this recent collection dedicated to Joni Mitchell not only excels in content but was recognized as the Jazz album of the year at the recent Grammy Awards. Bravo

This recording by Herbie, though not flashy, is probably the best thing that he's ever done, and never has a recording been more deserving of Record of The Year. Of course, it would not have been possible without the
brilliant songwriting of Joni Mitchell, who makes an appearance here on one of her songs. Herbie and his fellow musicians never get lost in the stratosphere. Their intepretations of Joni's music flows like the songs, and yes, like a river. For me the highlight is A Case of You, which I have always felt is Joni's masterpiece, both vocally and as a songwriter.
Listening to Herbie, I hear nuances that I have never picked up on before.

Herbie Hancock is one of the reigning kings of contemporary music and this again shows why he is the ruler. He takes on another great artist's work and takes it to another level. Due to the respect he has earned and his prowess on piano, a great group of singers signed up to help him do this including Joni Mitchell herself. Tina Turner is captivating here. He also throws in a new version of Ellington's "Solitude" to add to this great album. What a magnificent choice !! He surely deserved the Grammy award for this, and he has again, defied logic in his work, as he has always sought to do. Another fine album to go with Watermelon Man, Headhunters, Maiden Voyage, and so many other projects he has produced over the years.

One can not expect a "bad" record from Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter assembled with a group of competent musicians. But comparison with the work of these two exceptional musicians in the past is inevitable. If you do so, this CD will sound nothing but professional and competent - but definitely lacking soul, innovation, freshness. At some point, only competence doesn't hold the CD, which becomes extremely boring.

Wonderful haunting interpretations of Joni's songs. If you were not a fan before take a listen to a new slant from a master musician.

This has got to be Hancocks' finest work since the Headhunters ! A must have for any jazz afficionado !

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".

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 back drop.

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 solo's 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.

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!

This is not a piece I'd advise folks w/a short attention span to pick up unless they are open to hearing very fleshed out music...

The mix of Joni's lyrics and Mr. Hancock's music is just brilliant...

It's not another piece that various artists have jumped on board to lend their take to another persons songs...

Mr. Hancock has expanded what were excellent tunes to a higher level....