Joni Mitchell skips a dazzling tribute

02/03/2006 1:54 AM, Reuters


The diversity and

durability of Joni Mitchell's music was well demonstrated

Wednesday at Carnegie Hall in a tribute concert that was a

model of its kind.

Shorn of the bombast and commercialism that mar so many of

these events, "The Music of Joni Mitchell" featured a dazzling

array of superb artists delivering passionate versions of some

of pop's most challenging material.

The evening also served a good cause, raising some $130,000

to benefit the Music for Youth Foundation, an organization

dedicated to funding music education programs for

underprivileged youth.

Producer Michael Dorf created a fast-paced program that ran

like clockwork, delivering some two dozen numbers in 2 1/2

hours. The guest of honor was unfortunately not present. In a

note read by Dorf, Mitchell explained that she had to care for

a "sick cat."

The eclecticism of Mitchell's music was accentuated by the

range of artists on display, from Neil Sedaka and Jimmy Scott

to Laurie Anderson and eels.

Unrepentant folkies were rewarded by two highly appropriate

surprise guests. Tom Rush, who first covered Mitchell's music

on classic albums like "The Circle Game," delivered moving

versions of that song and "Urge for Going," while Richie Havens

sang a plaintive rendition of the classic "Woodstock."

The evening included both faithful and iconoclastic takes

on Mitchell's oeuvre. Examples of the former included Dar

Williams' folksy "Rainy Nighthouse," American-Indian singer

Joanne Shenandoah's moving "The Dawntreader," Suzanne Vega's

hushed "Amelia," Amy Grant's chirpy "Big Yellow Taxi," Shawn Colvin's unadorned "Turbulent Indigo" and show closer Judy

Collins reprising her landmark cover of "Both Sides Now."

But there also were plenty of surprises. Sedaka delivered a

rollicking "Raised on Robbery," featuring a heavy dose of

boogie-woogie piano; eels provided a stark stylishness to "All

I Want"; and Pharaoh's Daughter infused the challenging "God

Must Be the Boogie Man" with Middle Eastern sounds. The Woods

Brothers provided a jazzy take on "Black Crow," while Jesse Malin, formerly of D Generation, delivered "Carey" as a

straight-ahead rocker. And the Cowboy Junkies' "River" featured

the band's trademark blend of country, blues and rock.

Anderson brought down the house with a spellbinding version

of "Both Sides Now" in which her ethereal vocals were

complemented by loads of electronic overlay.

Bettye LaVette, joking that she had finally gotten to

Carnegie Hall after 45 years of "practice, practice, practice,"

delivered a gorgeously soulful version of "Last Chance Lost."

Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams tried a similar

approach with less success on an overblown "Help Me."

The audience favorite was clearly veteran singer Jimmy

Scott, who cheated a bit (not that anyone minded) by performing

the standard "At Last," which Mitchell once recorded.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter