Joni Mitchell

Lore & Background

Mitchell is backed on *Mingus* by Jaco Pastorius on fretless bass, Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Herbie Hancock on electric piano, Peter Erskine on drums, and Don Alias on percussion. The album received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and peaked at number 17 in the US. "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines" was released as a single but did not chart. Mitchell toured to promote the album through 1979–80; performances from these concerts were documented on the live album *Shadows and Light* (1980). Critical reception included a 5-star review from *DownBeat*, where Neil Tesser called the album "a wonderful piece of work." He noted that on four songs, the late bassist supplied the music and Joni wrote the lyrics, calling it "the first real advance in the jazz art of vocalese since Lambert, Hendricks & Ross." He remarked that Mitchell "can perform as a credible, and here excellent, jazz singer" and called "Porkpie Hat" a masterpiece, saying "Joni's lyrics, quite frankly, are profound." *The Globe and Mail* wrote that the melodies have "a little wider range and a more legitimate jazz feeling to them than Mitchell could compose, but given Mitchell's peculiar vocal talent, what started out Mingus ended up sounding just like Joni Mitchell, moving forward once again into new territory."

Prior to recording the album, Mitchell had several "experimental sessions" with New York musicians who had worked with Mingus. The recordings of these sessions, rumored to have been lost, destroyed, or otherwise made unavailable, have become available as bootleg tapes.

Reader's Guide

Mitchell's *Mingus* album was recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood by Henry Lewy and Steve Katz, with additional recordings at Electric Lady Studios in New York by Henry Lewy and Jerry Solomon. The album was mixed by Joni Mitchell, Henry Lewy, and Steve Katz, and mastered by Bernie Grundman. Personal management was handled by Elliot Roberts. The paintings on the album were by Joni Mitchell, with art direction by Glen Christensen. For fans exploring Mitchell's work, *Mingus* stands as a key document of her jazz period. The album features five spoken word tracks interspersed throughout, and the musicians include jazz luminaries like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. The album's dedication to Charles Mingus and its experimental nature make it a unique entry in her catalog. Mitchell's lyrics for Mingus' melodies were praised by critics as a significant advance in vocalese.

Did You Know?

• Mingus is the tenth studio album by Joni Mitchell, released on June 13, 1979.
• The album was recorded in the months before and after Charles Mingus' death in January 1979 and is wholly dedicated to him.
• Mingus originally wrote six compositions ('Joni I-VI') for Mitchell to write lyrics for; three of these were included on the album.
• The album features five spoken word tracks, denoted as 'raps,' dispersed throughout.
• The single 'The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines' was released to promote the album but did not chart.