As Joni Mitchell--the delicate blonde Canadian folk singer who penned the song theme "Woodstock" for the 1969 gathering that rocked an entire culture--continues to recover and work her way back to full health, her legacy continues to unfold. Both in her own recordings and those of the numerous musicians throughout the decades she has inspired and influence, the latest tribute comes from R&B singer Chaka Khan, who has announced a tribute album to Mitchell.
In an interview with The Washington Post to talk about her new album, singer, Chaka Khan, wanted to assure everyone that her friend was doing much better after being found unconscious in her LA home March 31 of last year, the result of a brain aneurysm. In the aforementioned interview, Chaka Khan noted about Mitchell's health, "Yes, we're good friends and she's doing very well, by the way. I want everyone to know that she's getting better and better every day. I'm sending stuff to her as I do it and she's loving it, so I'm happy."
There has been a massive amount of support and get well wishes for Mitchell, the fallen former folk singer turned Jazz aficinado. As many will remember, it was Herbie Hancock who first recorded a tribute album of the Canadian's work. His 2007 album River: The Joni Letters won the 2008 Grammy for Album of the year.
That album came about as Hancock would tell CNN online, "Hancock says River: The Joni Letters came about because of a suggestion from Verve executive, Dahlia Ambach Caplin, who asked what Hancock was going to do for his next jazz record following 2006's somewhat pop recording, Possibilities. Knowing about Hancock's friendship with Mitchell, the idea came up of doing an album of Mitchell songs, many of which have jazz underpinnings."
With superstar David Bowie's passing, an entire generation is quickly slipping from view. One day, they will all be gone, swept up in the tidal wave of time. It is our job not to forget.
