In November of last year, big-time musicians from a variety of genres gathered together to celebrate the 75th birthday of often genre-defying music icon Joni Mitchell. The life, career and music of the Canadian-born singer/songwriter was honored at a two-night concert event at Los Angeles’ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, which Mitchell attended, though she did not perform due to ongoing health issues (she capped off the concerts by coming onstage to blow out the candles on her birthday cake).
But her songs were the stars of the show, performed by an array of artists that included James Taylor, Chaka Khan, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Brandi Carlile, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, Los Lobos, Seal, Rufus Wainwright and Glen Hansard. Longtime friend/peer Graham Nash was the only guest to not play a Mitchell original, instead paying tribute with the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song “Our House,” which he wrote about his time living with Mitchell and her two cats in Laurel Canyon.
The November concerts were captured on video and edited into the Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration film, which will be receiving a nationwide one-night-only theater premiere this Thursday (Feb. 7) in advance of its release on home video and streaming services.
In Cincinnati, the film is screening at Cincinnati World Cinema’s Garfield Theatre, which last year participated in the one-night national screening event of Bad Reputation, a documentary about the trailblazing career of rocker Joan Jett.
The album version of the "Joni 75" concert celebration will be released in March.
7 p.m. Thursday. $15, $20 at the door. The Garfield Theatre, 719 Race St., Downtown, cincyworldcinema.org. Click here for tickets and complete screening info.
UPDATE: There will be an encore screening of the Joni 75 film on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at The Garfield. Click here for tickets/more details on the 7 p.m. showing.