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Joni Mitchell has long dabbled in the jazz world, forging
alliances with the likes of Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorius,
and Wayne Shorter, while incorporating elements of fusion into
her more intrepid recordings. Both Sides Now, however, comes at
jazz from a different angle than the experimental likes of
Mingus and The Hissing of Summer Lawns. Here is Joni the
chanteuse, tackling smoky standards such as "At Last,"
"Sometimes I'm Happy," and "Stormy Weather" in the embrace of
lush pop arrangements that owe a debt to Nelson Riddle and
Gordon Jenkins, though some stray over the line from stately
into staid. The focus here is on Mitchell the vocalist, and
she displays a real commitment to the music. She has the chops
and the smarts to tackle these staples, but at times she seems
intimidated by their illustrious pedigrees. Two of Mitchell's
own songs are revived here--"A Case of You" and the title track.
The results are mixed: the former takes on a new weight while
the latter seems adolescent in such mature company. Ultimately,
Both Sides Now is more a valentine to classic pop by a woman who
can--and should--be off making more touchstones of her own.
--Steven Stolder, Amazon.com
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