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River: The Joni Letters (with Bonus Tracks) - Amazon.com Exclusive | 
 enlarge | Artist: Herbie Hancock
Label: Verve
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $12.99
You Save: $5.99 (32%)
New (1) Used (1) from $11.70
Avg. Customer Rating:  103 reviews
Sales Rank: 100
Format: Special Edition
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
UPC: 602517477544
EAN: 0602517477544
ASIN: B000V9RRPQ
Release Date: September 25, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Court and Spark featuring Norah Jones | | • | Edith and the Kingpin featuring Tina Turner | | • | Both Sides Now | | • | River featuring Corinne Bailey Rae | | • | Sweet Bird | | • | Tea Leaf Prophecy featuring Joni Mitchell | | • | Solitude | | • | Amelia featuring Luciana Souza | | • | Nefertiti | | • | The Jungle Line featuring Leonard Cohen | | • | All I Want featuring Sonya Kitchell (Exclusive Bonus Track) | | • | A Case of You (Exclusive Bonus Track) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
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
Album Description
This Amazon.com exclusive version of River: The Joni Letters includes two bonus tracks, "All I Want" featuring Sonya Kitchell and "A Case of You." The legendary pianist and innovator Herbie Hancock explores the words and music of another musical pioneer, Joni Mitchell, on his first new studio recording for Verve since 1998's GRAMMY award-winning Gershwin's World. Inspired in equal parts by Mitchell's poetic lyrics and unique melodies, Hancock and saxophone giant Wayne Shorter play with a restraint and elegance that achieves a perfect balance between the adventurous aesthetics of jazz improvisation and the emotional directness of the finest Adult Pop music. Hancock builds upon his (and Shorter's) previous collaborations with Ms. Mitchell to create a sound that will appeal not only to fans of both artists, but to the listener familiar with the work of Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae and the other brilliant guest vocalists featured on this session. River: The Joni Letters is the perfect CD for the music fan looking for something new that's based in the familiar.
Album Description
The legendary pianist and innovator explores the words and music of another musical pioneer Joni Mitchell on his first new studio recording for Verve since 1998's GRAMMY Award winner Gershwin's World. Inspired in equal parts by Mitchell's poetic lyrics and unique melodies/harmonies, the musicians play with a restraint and elegance that achieves a perfect balance between the adventurous aesthetics of jazz improvisation and the emotional directness of one of the finest singer/songwriters of the last five decades. On the album: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Lionel Loueke, Dave Holland & Vinnie Colaiuta with special guests Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza, Leonard Cohen & Joni Mitchell
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| Customer Reviews: Read 98 more reviews...
 Herbie Hancock-River the joni letters June 17, 2008
It was pleasure listening to this CD. The music is wonderful.A must have for all lovers of jazz.
Excellent! June 13, 2008
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.
a very moving, worthwhile purchase June 3, 2008
Love Love Love this man's music. Great for driving, musing, or back ground music.
3horses
Calgary, Alberta
Someone young who appreciates aged artistry May 27, 2008
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!
Old Head Music May 24, 2008
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.
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