Nathan Mitchell Gentle And Smooth

There is no smooth jazz artist in the music space right now more sought after or who has made more of a new mark on the genre than has keyboardist Nathan Mitchell. He is one of the genres shining lights and his live performances have been considered epic and fully immersive. Just coming off of yet another Billboard #1 with his recent hit single So In Love With You, Mitchell has been hunkered down in full creative mode, riding the high he has been on over the last two years crafting what has now become his latest and by far best work The Legacy Project.

Joni Mitchell reached her commercial high point with Court and Spark, a remarkably deft fusion of folk, pop, and jazz which stands as her best-selling work to date. While as unified and insightful as Blue, the album – a concept record exploring the roles of honesty and trust in relationships, romantic and otherwise – moves away from confessional songwriting into evocative character studies: the hit "Free Man in Paris," written about David Geffen, is a not-so-subtle dig at the machinations of the music industry, while "Raised on Robbery" offers an acutely funny look at the predatory environment of the singles bar scene. Much of Court and Spark is devoted to wary love songs: both the title cut and "Help Me," the record's most successful single, carefully measure the risks of romance, while "People's Parties" and "The Same Situation" are fraught with worry and self-doubt (standing in direct opposition to the music, which is smart, smooth, and assured from the first note to the last).

Joni Mitchell - Shadows And Light (1980) [2CD] {Asylum HDCD Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 487 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 200 Mb
Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 8 Mb
© 1980 Asylum / Elektra | ASYLUM 704-2 | HDCD
Jazz / Folk Rock / Fusion / Psychedelic

Although this incredible live unit never recorded a proper studio album we do have this as a reminder of just what is possible. Joni the folkie briefly became Ms. Mitchell the jazz singer, supported by the formidable talents of Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker and Don Alias. Many of Mitchell's jazz flirtations are given the full treatment with musicians who understood both her and the genre. It is a staggering marriage of talents and wholly successful. There are even obligatory bonus solos from Pat and Don. They should have stayed together for at least another album.