Joni Reimagined by Funkestra
LINER NOTES
This album was a few years in the making. The journey started with a ‘socially distanced’ and restricted Masterlink Sessions video during lockdown.
Hammond virtuoso Ross Stanley recorded a riveting instrumental version of ‘A Case Of You’ with Mike Sturgis on drums and myself on bass. When Mark Ede, manager of vocalist Jo Harman heard our version he was immediately smitten and suggested recording another version with vocals. This was the first stepping stone of the journey and also led to several conversations with a wide range of artists about the work and artistry of Joni Mitchell.
As it transpired there was a lot of love and respect for her art which has clearly touched and inspired countless of artists and musicians. Hence the quest began to record our own versions by asking artists which Joni songs meant the most to them. We were looking for deep-dive lovers of her music and we believe we found them.
At first we thought that our Joni album would encompass vocal interpretations alongside instrumental offerings. Yet as time marched on it was clear that there was enough creative appetite to produce two records - the one you are holding in your hands and and all-instrumental album called ‘The Colours of Joni’ - perhaps with a jazzier outlook hinting towards Joni’s bands of the 70s.
Although music recording technology has come a long way since Joni recorded her first records in the 60s and nothing seems to be impossible to accomplish with hi-tech equipment today, we opted for a traditional approach when recording these songs. Critically this means that all the artists and musicians were together in the same room conjuring up the sonic landscape, live and unconstrained to achieve the most pure and emotive performances possible. Bar a few ‘overdubs’ (meaning instruments added after recording the band) this is what you’ll hear on this album, very much in line with the overall Masterlink Sessions philosophy, i.e. inviting guests to record and film live in the studio with the band.
Joni Mitchell is an immensely creative artist and we’d like to think that she would approve of how we’ve interpreted her beautiful tunes as well as as finding other Joni Mitchell fiends that are open to a different take on her much beloved repertoire.
(Stefan Redtenbacher, producer)
As someone who represents a number of elite vocalists, some of whom feature on this album, the opportunity to work with band leader and producer Stefan Redtenbacher and his collective of stellar musicians has proved to be a very rewarding and productive partnership in recent years. Apart from being a multi-million streaming act in their own right, Redtenbacher's Funkestra also act as a studio 'house' band in Surrey and a number of excellent collaborations have been produced over that time.
In many ways the creative journey which has led to this album has been the zenith of these endeavours; being both the most challenging but, ultimately, the most rewarding.
Not least because this work creates, in my view, a beautiful marriage between a group of world class international musicians and some truly outstanding, characterful, vocalists who are also artists in their own right. Together they bring a new perspectives to some of the best songwriting in the history of modern music.
It's a privilege and honour to be a small part of the process of bringing this recording to fruition and also in taking the music into the live show arena. Great songs are open to re-interpretation and they are done so here very much with real love and respect to the spirit of Joni in their re-imaging.
(Mark Ede, BiGiAM Music)
Tracklist
Videos
Credits
PRODUCTION CREDITS
All Masterlink Sessions filmed by Leo Mansell
Recorded and mixed by James Welch at Masterlink Productions, Surrey UK (except where indicated)
Mastered by Tim Debney at Fluid Mastering
All songs written by Joni Mitchell | Crazy Crow Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Stefan Redtenbacher & James Welsh
Joni Mitchell illustration and graphic design by Mark Wilkenson
THANK YOUS
First of all to Joni Mitchell for sharing her inspirational art with the world at large for over six decades.
A big thank you to all the artists and musicians who have taken part in this creative journey and sharing their passion for the music of this towering artist.
My gratitude to the Masterlink Sessions team (Leo Mansell and James Welch) who were there at every step and allowing this album to grow in an organic and beautiful way. It is a pleasure to work with them.
Another special mention goes to Mark Ede, manager of Jo Harman and BiGiAM agent.
His passion, drive and love for being involved in creating meaningful, emotional and heartfelt sound recordings combined with his reverence for the Joni Mitchell catalogue has significantly helped in shaping this oeuvre. So much so that we have teamed up to create the ‘Both Sides Now’ live show to bring this collection of songs to concert halls near and far.
Last but not least to all fans listening to this collection of songs with an open mind and supporting this project to celebrate the songs of Joni Mitchell.
Stefan would further like to thank Jesse Hoff from Lazy J Amps, Rob Blackham from Blackham Images, Tom Traint from Tom Traint customs, Manfred Eich and Peter-Paul van Kouteren from Eich Amps, Herman Gerlach from Harvest Guitar Bags, Max Junger from Pyramid Strings, Nick Wass and Cathy Harrison from Hofner Guitars, Tobias Helmlinger and Johannes Pöhlmann from Vincent Bass Guitars and last but not least Mark Wilkenson for his beautiful artwork.
License
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Austrian-bred bassist and funk fiend Stefan Redtenbacher is an anomaly, anachronism and a defiant demolisher of the pigeon-hole. Currently based in London, Stefan and his band Redtenbacher’s Funkestra deliver “out-and-out spectacular funk” (Snowboy) or, as UK Bass Guitar Magazine put it, “a near perfect slice of jazz-funk from one of Europe’s great players.”