Joni Mitchell - Travelogue

According to Joni Mitchell, Travelogue is her final recorded work, and if that is so, it's a detailed exploration of moments in a career that is as dazzling as it is literally uncompromising. Over 22 tracks and two CDs (and as stunning package featuring a plethora of photographs of Mitchell's paintings), Travelogue is a textured and poetic reminiscence, not a reappraisal, of her work -- most of it from the 1970s through the 1990s. A 70-piece orchestra, as well as jazz legends Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Kenny Wheeler, drummer Brian Blade, bassist Chuck Berghofer, producer Larry Klein, and organist Billy Preston, among others, accompanies her. It's true that Mitchell dabbled in this territory in 2000 on Both Sides Now, but that recording only remotely resembles this one. Cast in this way it is true that this is no easy cruise, but given the nearly 40 years of her sojourn in popular music, Mitchell's work, particularly from the mid-'70s on, has been difficult for many to grasp on first listen and always gives up its considerable rewards, slowly making her records age well over time; they are not disposable as much of the music from her peers is. These completely recast songs cover the entirety of her career, from her debut, Song From a Seagull, to Turbulent Indigo (with certain albums not being represented at all). It's true there aren't high-profile cuts here except for "Woodstock," which is radically reshaped, but it hardly matters. When you hear the ultrahip, be-bopping "God Must Be a Boogie Man," there is an elation without sentimentality; in the scathing and venomous "For the Roses" and "Just Like This Train," the bitterness and aggression in their delivery offers the listener an empathy with Mitchell's anger at the recording industry -- and anyone else who's crossed her. But while there is plenty of swirling darkness amid the strings here, there is also the fulfillment of prophecy; just give a listen to this version of "Sex Kills" that bears its weight in full measure of responsibility and vision. Her voice, aged by years of smoking, is huskier and is, if anything, more lovely, mature, deep in its own element of strength. The restatement of W.B. Yeats, "Slouching Toward Bethlehem," is more stunning now than ever before as is "Hejira." In "The Circle Game" and "Slouching Toward Bethlehem," you hear the ambition in Mitchell's musical direct as she has moved ever closer to the tone poem as a song form. Though it may not be as easy on first listen as Court and Spark, Travelogue will continue to unfold over time and offer, like her best work, decades of mystery and pleasure. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Name Credits Allen Sides Mixing Andrew Busher Choir, Chorus Andrew Crowley Trumpet Andrew Findon Flute Andy Strange Assistant Engineer Anna Noakes Flute Anthony Pleeth Celli Antonia Fuchs Violin Ben Cruft Violin Bernie Grundman Mastering Bill Lockhart Percussion Billy Preston Organ (Hammond) Bob Smissen Viola Boguslaw Kostecki Violin Brian Blade Drums Bruce White Viola Catherine Bradshaw Viola Cathy Thompson Violin Chris Cowie Oboe Chris Laurence Bass Chris Tombling Violin Christopher Baron Percussion Chuck Berghofer Bass (Acoustic) Cindi Peters Production Coordination Dana Pilson Production Coordination Darrell Thorp Assistant Engineer Dave Stewart Trombone (Bass) Dave Woodcock Violin David Ayre Bass David Bucknall Celli David Daniels Celli David Emanuel Violin David Fuest Clarinet David Porter Thomas Choir, Chorus David Pyatt Horn Derek Watkins Trumpet Dermot Crehan Violin Donald Greig Choir, Chorus Douglas Mackie Violin Everton Nelson Violin Frank Ricotti Percussion Garfield Jackson Viola Gavin McNaughton Bassoon Gavyn Wright Orchestra Leader Geoff Foster Engineer Gerry O'Beirne Choir, Chorus Graham Godfrey Choir, Chorus Gustav Clarkson Viola Heather Nicholl Clarinet Helen Hathorn Violin Helen Keen Flute Helen Liebmann Celli Helen Tunstall Harp Helix Hadar Engineer Herbie Hancock Piano Hugh Webb Harp Isobel Griffiths Orchestra Contractor Jackie Shave Violin Jacob Heringman Lute Jake Jackson Assistant Engineer Jeff Burns Assistant Engineer Jennie O'Grady Choir Conductor Jeremy Birchall Choir, Chorus Jeremy Rose Choir, Chorus Jim McLeod Violin John Anderson Concert Orchestra Oboe John Barclay Trumpet John Bowley Choir, Chorus John Kingsley Smith Choir, Chorus John Lenehan Piano John Pigneguy Horn Johnathan Rees Violin Jonathan Evans Jones Violin Jonathan Strange Violin Jonathan Tunnell Celli Joni Mitchell Producer, Photography, Art Direction, Paintings Julian Leaper Violin Julie Andrews Bassoon Justin Ward Viola Katherine Shave Violin Kenny Wheeler Flugelhorn, Trumpet Larry Klein Producer, Bass (Electric), Musical Direction Leon Bosch Bass Lindsay Benson Choir, Chorus Liz Edwards Violin Mark Berrow Violin Martin Loveday Celli Mary Scully Bass Matthew Brooke Choir, Chorus Metro Voices Choir Performer Michael Dore Choir, Chorus Michael McMenemy Violin Michael Pearn Choir, Chorus Mike Hext Trombone Mike Thompson Horn Nick Bucknall Clarinet Owen Slade Tuba Paddy Lannigan Bass Patrick Kiernan Violin Paul Archibald Trumpet Paul Kegg Celli Paul Willey Violin Paulinho Da Costa Percussion Perry Mason Violin Pete Beachill Trombone Peter Davies Trombone Peter Hansen Violin Peter Lale Viola Philip Dukes Viola Philip Eastop Horn Philip Todd Sax (Soprano) Plas Johnson Sax (Tenor) Rachel Bolt Viola Rebecca Hirsch Violin Richard Bissell Horn Richard Edwards Trombone Richard Skinner Contrabassoon Richard Watkins Horn Rita Manning Violin Robert Evans Choir, Chorus Robert Kearley Choir, Chorus Robin Firman Celli Robin O' Neill Bassoon Roger Harvey Trombone Simon Benson Bass Simon Fischer Violin Simon Gardner Trumpet Simon Grant Choir, Chorus Simon Rayner Horn Skaila Kanga Harp Steve Henderson Percussion Steven Orton Celli Stuart Brooks Trumpet Susan Bohling Oboe, Cornet Tim Grant Viola Tom Sweeney Assistant Engineer Tony Lewis Celli Vic Fraser Copyist Vince Mendoza Arranger, Conductor Warren Zielinski Violin Wayne Shorter Sax (Soprano) Zoe Lake Viola