Joni Mitchell followers, get your tissues prepared. On tonight’s PBS particular, Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Fashionable Track, her contemporaries corresponding to James Taylor and Herbie Hancock and followers corresponding to Brandi Carlile and Diana Krall pay tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter with interpretations of a few of her classics.
Amongst them: Marcus Mumford performs “Carey,” Herbie Hancock and Ledisi carry out “River” and Angélique Kidjo sings “Assist Me.”
Mitchell herself, who had largely stopped performing within the final twenty years earlier than showing eventually yr’s Newport Folks Pageant, mesmerized the viewers with a transparent and wealthy rendition of George Gershwin’s “Summertime.”
The live performance came about on March 1 at Structure Corridor in Washington, D.C. All through the PBS particular, which paperwork the occasion, musical tributes are interspersed with pictures and movies from all through Mitchell’s profession. Her visible artwork offers the backdrop as her associates and collaborators take the stage.
“Joni Mitchell’s music hits you straight to your coronary heart, right down to your soul,” feedback Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden earlier than giving Mitchell the prize. “You possibly can say she has actually helped all of us take a look at each side now.”
Earlier recipients of the Gershwin Prize embody Paul Simon, Stevie Marvel, Sir Paul McCartney, the songwriting duo of the late Burt Bacharach and the late Hal David, Carole King and Smokey Robinson.
“I am a inventive particular person. I just like the inventive course of,” Mitchell stated in a press release. “I have been a painter all my life. I have been a musician most of my life. If you happen to can paint with a brush, you possibly can paint with phrases. … It is an excellent honor to hitch the pantheon of recipients.”
Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Fashionable Track airs on PBS stations at 9 p.m. ET tonight. It’s going to broadcast to U.S. Division of Protection areas all over the world through the American Forces Community.
