How Joni Mitchell inspired Herbie Hancock to greatness
Through her vulnerable, poetic lyrics and her full folk soundscapes, Joni Mitchell has inspired countless musicians. She paved the way for the new wave modern of indie folk, led by women expelling their innermost feelings accompanied by soft acoustic strums.
The sounds of Mitchell can most obviously be found in contemporary artists such as Lana Del Rey and Laura Marling, but Mitchell’s impact also extends far beyond her own sphere of songwriting. Many non-folk artists have shared their love for the Canadian artist, ranging from Prince to Björk. Her artistry has transcended time and genre, and her influence even won one musician a Grammy for ‘Album of the Year’.
Like many artists, Herbie Hancock harboured an admiration for Mitchell’s talent. By the midpoint of the 1970s, Mitchell had begun to move away from folk into the world of jazz, working with the likes of Charles Mingus and Wayne Shorter, so it’s no surprise that Hancock admired her work.
The composer even once described an interaction with Mitchell and fellow jazz great Shorter as an “unbelievable” experience and one of the greatest of his life, noting, “They both speak in these metaphors that are just incredible.”
“One of the greatest experiences I ever had was listening to a conversation with Joni Mitchell and Wayne Shorter,” he recalled to HuffPost, “Just to hear them talking, my mouth was open. They understand each other perfectly, and they make these leaps and jumps because they don’t have to explain anything.”
Hancock was so taken by her talent and presence that, rather than merely infusing Mitchell’s influence into his own work as many others have done, he took his admiration for her musical musings one step further. In 2007, he released River: The Joni Letters. A cover album, the record saw Hancock taking on some of Mitchell’s biggest songs, from the iconic ‘Both Sides Now’ to the more jazz-adjacent ‘The Jungle Line’, in collaboration with Shorter on the saxophone.
Between gorgeous jazzy piano takes on folk classics and an impressive list of featured artists that ranged from Tina Turner to Leonard Cohen, Hancock secured a Grammy nomination for ‘Album of the Year’, going up against the likes of Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters and Kanye West. Against all odds, River: The Joni Letters took the title, the second jazz album ever to do so.
Mitchell’s direct influence on Hancock, her captivating conversations with Shorter, and her musical output had directly propelled the jazz composer to award-season greatness. Her impact and influence on music remain so potent that it not only encompasses her own success but the success of those she has inspired.
Listen to River: The Joni Letters below.
