Joni Mitchell

Name: Roberta Joan Anderson
Born: 7th November, 1943 (Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada)

Profile: She is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter.

History: Mitchell began singing at the age of 9, and started in small nightclubs in her native Western Canada and then busking on the streets of Toronto. As a teenager, she taught herself ukulele and, later, guitar. She began performing at parties and bonfires, which eventually led to gigs playing in coffeehouses and other venues in Saskatoon.

In the mid 60's, she left for New York City and its rich folk music scene, recording her debut album in 1968 and achieving fame first as a songwriter and then as a singer in her own right. Finally settling in Southern California, she played a key part in the folk rock movement then sweeping the musical landscape.

In 1971, her starkly personal album 'Blue', is regarded as one of the strongest and most influential records of the time. Mitchell's soprano vocals, distinctive harmonic guitar style, and piano arrangements all grew more complex through the 70's as she was deeply influenced by jazz, melding it with pop, folk and rock on experimental albums like 76's Hejira. She worked closely with jazz greats including Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock and Charles Mingus.

While some of Mitchell's most popular songs were written on piano, almost every song she composed on the guitar uses an open, or non-standard tuning; she has written songs in some 50 different tunings, which she has referred to as "Joni's weird chords." The use of alternative tunings allows more varied and complex harmonies to be produced on the guitar, without the need for difficult chord shapes. Indeed, many of her guitar songs use very simple chord shapes, but her use of alternative tunings and a highly rhythmic picking/strumming style creates a rich and unique guitar sound.

Influences: Unknown

Axology: Steve Klein custom acoustic guitar and Martin D-28 acoustic guitar

Signature song(s): Both Sides Now, Big Yellow Taxi, Free Man in Paris and Hejira

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q4foLKDlcE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEK9yi3KS4I&feature=related

"My style is quite different. People were always telling me I was playing things wrong" - Joni Mitchell