I love Wayne Shorter. He's the best saxophonist ever, in my opinion. Miles thought so too. Even over Coltrane and the people who were much more famous than Wayne, really. Everything was magical about him. I remember I was playing with Jaco Pastorius, who had just joined Weather Report. Wayne, of course, was one of the founding members of that band. Jaco was supposed to be in the studio recording with me, and he didn't show up. So I said to Henry, the engineer, ”I know where he is. Let's go get him.” So we went down to the rehearsal studio. Zawinul and Jaco were tossing a Frisbee on the ground. They were throwing it with their hand and priding themselves on how good they were at catching a Frisbee and everything.

At a certain point, they threw it at Peter Erskine, who was a new drummer in the band. It came towards him and he was terrified. He reached up and grabbed it and threw it. It wobbled all the way back. Jaco looked at him and kind of gave him the stink eye for a bad throw. Up on the stage meantime was Wayne with his horn tucked under his left arm. He was playing the keyboard with his right hand. Joe threw the Frisbee at Wayne, and it was coming straight at Wayne’s head, out of his peripheral vision. Wayne reached up, caught it and threw it back perfectly. You know, Wayne was more than a musician. He was like a little Zen master. He was mystical. He was the only musician that I could direct metaphorically or theatrically. I would say to him, “Come in here and get out here. Then come in really sad, and by the time you get to here… get really young.”

And he would play that! Or, I’d tell him, okay, Wayne, “you're the bird.” So he'd go out in the studio, put his horn in his mouth, and the first lick that came out of him was so like a bird. It was amazing. Then his hand was in the air waving for “one more take,” and I said, “no way. I'll punch you in, but I won't start over.” So I punched him in and I left the first lick that he played on the record. It was magnificent. He was just kind of unconscious when he played it, but it was so bird-like and so unusual. He was a beautiful musician. He will be sorely missed.

Joni brought “Both Sides Now” of the political aisle together, as lawmakers and musical artists celebrated her life and career at the Library of Congress’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Joni was honored Wednesday in a star-studded ceremony at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington.

The annual honor from the Library of Congress, named after George and Ira Gershwin, is considered the “nation’s highest award for influence, impact and achievement in popular music.” Mitchell’s music, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden told the packed audience at the tribute concert, “hits you straight to your heart, down to your soul.” -Kyle Balluck

Wayne Shorter, the enigmatic, intrepid saxophonist who shaped the color and contour of modern jazz as one of its most intensely admired composers, died this morning in Los Angeles. He was 89.

Mr. Shorter had a sly, confiding style on the tenor saxophone, instantly identifiable by his low-gloss tone and elliptical sense of phrase. His sound was brighter on soprano, an instrument on which he left an incalculable influence; he could be inquisitive, teasing or elusive, but always with a pinpoint intonation and clarity of attack. - Nate Chinen

Wayne was Joni's 'go-to' sax player, and she asked him to record with her often- first on the Don Juan's Reckless Daughter album in 1977. He last recorded with her on 2002's Travelogue. Read more...

James Taylor, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Marcus Mumford, Graham Nash, Diana Krall and Angelique Kidjo have been confirmed to perform on Wednesday, March 1, as Joni is awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during an all-star tribute concert in Washington DC.

Joni will also appear at the Library on Thursday, March 2, at 7 p.m. ET as part of the Live at the Library series in conversation with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. The event is open to the public with seating on a first-come, first-serve basis. More information here

“It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away,” his wife wrote in a statement to Variety. “He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music. Peace, love, and harmony to all who knew David and those he touched. We will miss him dearly. At this time, we respectfully and kindly ask for privacy as we grieve and try to deal with our profound loss. Thank you for the love and prayers.”

David Crosby produced Joni’s first album and aimed to protect the integrity, originality, and purity of Joni’s music. "We did get the actual songs down without a bunch of other crud on it, and that made me happy," Crosby remembered. "That's the thing I'm proudest of."

David Crosby was 81 years old.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today announced that Joni will be the next recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Mitchell will be honored with a tribute concert March 1 in Washington, D.C., that will premiere on PBS stations nationwide on March 31. More information here.

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MoFi), which specializes in the foremost audio technology and definitive reissues of significant albums, will release six iconic Joni albums on its UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP (UD1S) and hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) formats. Strictly numbered and limited, each UD1S box set will be sourced from the original analog master tapes (analog tape to DSD to analog console to Lathe) and pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl. The numbered-edition SACDs will come packaged in mini-gatefold sleeves and will also be sourced from the original analog master tapes. Ladies of the Canyon (1970) and Blue (1971) will be released in 2023. Four other albums — For the Roses (1972), Court and Spark (1974), The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975), and Hejira (1976) — will follow. Read the press release.

This just in from Joni! "I joined my dear friend Elton John for a very special conversation on his Rocket Hour program." Full audio and video available Saturday at 2pm LDN / 6am PT only on Apple Music. Released to the public 4 hours later. The discussion was taped on October 28.

Is this Dreamland coming on? Could this be the Only Joy in Town? We got a break, unbelievable!

The secret is out- Joni will be performing live again for the second Joni Jam - 'Echoes through the Canyon' - with Brandi Carlile. Set your sights for June 10, 2023 at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. Tickets will be sold in three increments: an Artist presale starts at 10am on Thursday October 27. Then, the public sale of tickets begins at 10am on Friday, October 28 (Both times are US Pacific).

Also, Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, October 25 at 10:00am until Thursday, October 27 at 10:00pm through the Citi Entertainment program.

We'll post any updates here, as details may change over the next few days. Amelia, this is not a false alarm.

On October 28, Rhino will mark the 50th anniversary of Joni Mitchell’s 1972 album ‘For The Roses’ with a new black vinyl reissue available at all retailers. An aqua blue pressing will follow on November 11. The color variant is an Amazon exclusive in the US, and will be available at various independent record stores in other territories.

Previously only available in the recent ‘Asylum Albums 1972-1975’ box set, the remastered album will now be available on its own, using the same sources as the box set. The records were cut by Bernie Grundman directly from the original analog master tapes, and both variations of ‘For The Roses’ are pressed at Optimal, as the ‘Asylum Albums’ box set was.

US links: Black vinyl - Blue vinyl. For other territories, contact your favorite record store for order details.