The music of Joni Mitchell — without the words.
The Colours of Joni is Redtenbacher’s Funkestra’s all-instrumental reimagining of Joni Mitchell, taking songs from across her extraordinary catalogue and opening them up through jazz, funk, soul, gospel and improvisation.
It grew from the same creative world as Joni Reimagined, but takes a very different route. Instead of placing singers at the centre, The Colours of Joni hands Joni’s melodies, harmony and rhythmic detail to a changing cast of instrumentalists and lets the musicians find their own way into the songs.
LISTEN TO THE COLOURS OF JONI
The result is neither a tribute album nor an attempt to reproduce Joni Mitchell’s original recordings. Stefan Redtenbacher arranged the material around the musicians actually in the room, allowing every performance to develop its own character.
The sessions feature an exceptional cast including Ross Stanley on Hammond organ and Rhodes, Orphy Robinson on vibraphone, Pat Levett on harmonica, guitarists Tony Remy, Mike Outram, Simon Johnson and Carter Arrington, Gunther Kurmayr on Wurlitzer, Tucker Antell on saxophone and the Varga Quartet Vienna, alongside the Funkestra rhythm section.
There is a deliberate connection to the adventurous musicians who surrounded Joni during some of her most exploratory work, but no attempt to recreate those records. These arrangements start with the songs and then see where another group of musicians might take them.
Sometimes the melody announces itself immediately. Sometimes it takes a considerably more scenic route.
As Mark Ede of BiGiAM observed:
“Does it sound like a Joni Mitchell record? Absolutely not. But that’s entirely the idea; this is a reimagining of her work showcasing not only the great lady’s compositional skills but also the exceptional quality of the great musicians on show, all ring-mastered by bandleader and arranger, Stefan Redtenbacher.”
Recorded as part of the Masterlink Sessions in Surrey, the musicians played together in the studio, listening and reacting in real time. Almost the entire project was also captured on film.
For listeners who know Joni through Blue, Court and Spark, Hejira and beyond — and for anyone drawn to instrumental jazz-funk, Hammond organ, guitar, vibes and adventurous ensemble playing — The Colours of Joni offers another route into one of modern songwriting’s richest catalogues.
TRACKLISTING
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Varga Quartet Vienna – Both Sides Now
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The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey – ft. Ross Stanley
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The Fiddle and the Drum – ft. Ross Stanley
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I Don’t Know Where I Stand – ft. Pat Levett
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If – ft. Gunther Kurmayr
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Black Crow – ft. Tucker Antell
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A Case of You – ft. Ross Stanley
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Big Yellow Taxi – ft. Mike Outram & Tony Remy
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Night Ride Home – ft. Pat Levett
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My Old Man – ft. Carter Arrington
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The Jungle Line – ft. Orphy Robinson
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River – ft. Simon Johnson & Mike Outram
WATCH THE SESSIONS
Almost every track on The Colours of Joni was also filmed during the Masterlink Sessions.
Watch the complete The Colours of Joni video playlist on YouTube HERE.
THE CD
This limited-edition Deluxe CD presents The Colours of Joni in a hardback linen digipack with a 16-page booklet.
The expanded packaging gives the album a more substantial physical presentation than the standard cardboard-sleeve edition, making it the preferred version for collectors and listeners who value the artwork, credits and accompanying visual material as part of the release.
Physical Deluxe CD release on RSB Records.
CREDITS
All songs written by Joni Mitchell.
Arranged and produced by Stefan Redtenbacher, except where indicated.
Recorded and mixed by James Welch at Masterlink Productions.
Mastered by Tim Debney at Fluid Mastering.
Video filmed by Leo Mansell.
Artwork by Michael Bendure.
Graphic design by Neil J Hart.
Photography by Rob Blackham, except where indicated.
Read the liner notes, quotes by all artists and track-by-track credits as well as the album production credits HERE.
