In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 great voices in recorded history. The series isn't an attempt to catalog the so-called "greatest" singers. Instead, they hope to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. Earlier, NPR asked the public to nominate artists for the series and received thousands of options. NPR and a panel of experts are in the process of whittling them down to about 100 singers - a mix of familiar names and surprising discoveries. Currently, down to around 130 singers, Joni is still in the running! Let's help Joni get recognized as one of the 50 great voices. Cast your vote!

Also, the word from the man on the street is that Reprise has begun handling the new releases from Rhino. There was some concern about Rhino's health and it appears now that there still may be hope for the release of Joni's boxed set what with Reprise stepping in. Sorry for the mere speculation, but the status of this set seems to be the most closely guarded secret since the appointment of the pope. Thanks to Greg for the tip.
 

Joni's birthday is November 7th. Wish her a Happy Birthday here. There is no guarantee that she'll see it, but one never knows!
 

Who says the 70's are over? Three of Joni's albums will be re-released on 180 gram vinyl, yes vinyl! Ladies of the Canyon, Court and Spark , and The Hissing of Summer Lawns will all be released on December 8. Get your order in at the links above then head to the basement and find that turntable. Yes, the 70's may be back but those 70's prices are long gone.
 

On August 14, 2008, sixty of the Washington D.C. areas' finest musicians & singers gathered together to pay tribute to the songs of Joni Mitchell at the Music Center at Strathmore. The 2,000 seat concert hall was sold out and the crowd was treated to a wonderful career retrospective of one of musics' immortals as more than 30 of Mitchell's songs were performed. The show was produced by Bandhouse Gigs, a DC based not for profit entity that has organized nine successful tribute concerts in the area since their beginnings in 2004. Other tribute honorees include The Band, Neil Young, Warren Zevon, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint, Bob Dylan, the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and Nils Lofgren.

We are pleased to announce that a CD featuring 16 songs performed that night is now available through Bandhouse Gigs.

Among the evenings performers were some of the shining lights in DC music including; Grammy award winners John Jennings, & Jon Carroll, Mary Ann Redmond, Lea, Grace Griffith, Laura Burhenn, Naked Blue, Chaise Lounge, Luke Brindley, Margot MacDonald, Chelsea Lee, Heidi Martin, Diane Rosenthal, Esther Haynes, Carey Creed, One Horse Town, Cairo Fred, Deeme Katson, Cal Everett, and guitarist Steuart Smith of the Eagles who recorded with Mitchell on her Turbulent Indigo album. More than 25 of D.C.'s finest musicians backed this array of singers throughout the concert.
 

Getting news on the previously announced boxed set is harder to come by than an appearance by Joni herself. Some sources say November (highly unlikely), some say February (more likely), but most official sources say nothing at all. As soon as we get some reliable information, we'll have it for you here.
 

Joni Mitchell's star-maker machinery inspires a tribute
BY LISA RICH
35th Anniversary Celebration of Joni Mitchell

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, November 21
Where: Concerts at the Crossing, 268 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville
Admission: $23 at the door; concertsatthecrossing.com

When musician Joni Mitchell released her album "Court and Spark" in 1974, she dared to do something different.

The songstress was deliberately stepping away from the folk rock niche that had gained her adoration and scores of publicity and fans.

It was time to experiment with other sounds: jazz and jazz fusion. The process paid off. she later won a Grammy award for the album for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).

Thirty-five years later, a group of musicians in their own right are paying tribute to Mitchell's release of "Court and Spark" and her decades of inspiring music that followed the album.

Tomorrow night at Concerts at the Crossing in Titusville, singer/songwriter Maura Kennedy is leading the 35th anniversary celebration.

Joining Kennedy will be three of her favorite musical friends including Sloan Wainwright, Kelly Flint and LisaBeth (with Maggie Marshall).
 

Sally Barker's Joni Mitchell Project will be touring the UK in November. Check out the dates on her website.
 

Charlie Dee is touring the Netherlands with her Tribute to Joni Mitchell through December 12th in support of her new DVD. Check her website for all the details.
 

Vernon, British Columbia, January 18, 2010 at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.
 

Joni's ballet will be performed 3 times during the Winter Olympics in January. Performance dates are January 22-24 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, BC, Canada. More information can be found here.
 

Victoria, British Columbia, January 27 and 28, 2010 at The Royal Theatre.
 

Nanaimo, British Columbia, January 30, 2010 at The Port Theatre.
 

Alberta Ballet performs Joni's The Fiddle and The Drum at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington.
 

Alberta Ballet performs Joni's The Fiddle and The Drum at the Barclay Theater in Irvine, California.
 

Alberta Ballet performs Joni's The Fiddle and The Drum at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California. February 26 and 27.
 

The first ever JoniFest in the Southern Hemisphere will be held 11-15 March, 2010 at Kangaroo Valley Bush Retreat in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. It will be four days of fun, relaxation, music and love. More info can be found here.