JONI MITCHELL: SHADOWS AND LIGHT

Details

• Release Year: 1980
• Genre: Documentary; Music
• Plot: Joni Mitchell; Shadows and Light; ; Joni Mitchell's 1970s and '80s forays into jazzier territory may have distressed her folkie faithful, but they also resulted in some uncompromising, challenging, and, yes, entertaining music. Witness this 73-minute document from her '79 tour, which finds her backed by her greatest band ever, including guitarist Pat Metheny and the extraordinary bassist Jaco Pastorius, as well as Metheny cohort Lyle Mays (keyboards), Michael Brecker (sax), and Don Alias (drums). Mitchell's The Hissing of Summer Lawns-Hejira-Mingus period is heavily favored; there are two tunes from Court and Spark, but nothing earlier. It's not perfect--the film clips edited into the live tracks (at Mitchell's direction) are an annoying distraction (Rebel Without a Cause? Huh?). But by the time Mitchell, Mays, and vocal group the Persuasions finish a spine-tingling version of the title song, you'll have witnessed something special--and historic, as this was the only time this stellar crew toured together. --Sam Graham ; ; 1. In France They Kiss On Main Street; 2. Edith And The King Pin; 3. Coyote; 4. Free Man In Paris; 5. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat; 6. Jaco's Solo/The High and Mighty/Third Stone From The Sun; 7. Dry Cleaner From Des Moines; 8. Amelia; 9. Pat's Solo; 10. Hejira; 11. Black Crow; 12. Furry Sings The Blues; 13. Raised on Robbery; 14. Why Do Fools Fall In Love?; 15. Shadows and Light
• Cast: Don Alias; Michael Brecker; Lyle Mays; Pat Metheny; Joni Mitchell; Jaco Pastorius
• Director: Joni Mitchell
• Runtime: 1:15
• Company: Sony Music
• Media Format: Movie