New compilation of Joni Mitchell’s jazz recordings announced

A new compilation is coming out this autumn celebrating the jazz side of Joni Mitchell, thanks to Rhino Records, who say it’s been years in the making. They’ve put together a 4CD or 8LP collection of music chosen by Joni herself that reflect jazz’s profound influence on her music, with liner notes with rare and previously unseen photos and original artwork. The set includes studio recordings, live performances, rare alternate takes, and material drawn from across the decades, featuring appearances from Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock and Charles Mingus among many others.

Mitchell calls Wayne Shorter her favourite collaborator and dedicates the collection to him following his passing in 2023. “It was a joy to play with him,” she writes. “He will be missed, but he will remain alive for me in this music.

Covering nearly every era of her recording career, the collection includes selections from Songs To A Seagull, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira, Mingus, Turbulent Indigo, Both Sides Now and more. It also features her guest appearances on projects like Hancock’s Grammy Award-winning album, River: The Joni Letters. The most recent recording is her performance of “Summertime,” live at the 2023 Newport Folk Festival.

The compilation is released on 5th September.