Joni Mitchell 75th Birthday Tribute Coming to L.A.

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The Music Center in Los Angeles has announced two Joni Mitchell tribute concerts titled JONI 75: A Birthday Celebration Live at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on November 6-7 (the latter being Mitchell’s 75th birthday), featuring a diverse array of singers and musicians. On both nights, Glen Hansard, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Chaka Khan, Diana Krall, Kris Kristofferson, Los Lobos, Graham Nash, Seal and Rufus Wainwright will perform songs from all stages of Mitchell’s life and career. Co-musical directors, providing the musical arrangements for the evenings, are percussionist Brian Blade, who recorded three studio albums and toured extensively with Mitchell, and pianist, composer, arranger producer Jon Cowherd. Tickets are available here.

Mitchell performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 1972 and 1974.

Following the second concert, on Nov. 7, the Music Center will salute Mitchell on her birthday with the Music Center’s Soirée: JONI 75, a special celebration for her and a fundraiser for the Music Center’s artistic programming. During the post-performance special event, the Music Center will honor Mitchell with the Music Center’s Excellence in the Performing Arts Award, acknowledging her pioneering spirit and timeless art and music. The Music Center’s Soirée: JONI 75 is presented by the Music Center in partnership with Vanity Fair and its editor, Radhika Jones.

The Music Center’s Artistic Advisor Jorn Weisbrodt is the creator of the two evenings, and Danny Kapilian is the music producer. “Joni Mitchell’s songs create sublime paintings of the landscape of human emotions and the mind,” Weisbrodt said.

Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin said, “Joni Mitchell is a true iconoclast and has long been an inspiration for us. Her unwavering commitment to expanding her musical vocabulary is something that we’ve tried to do as a band so it’s a huge honor to be part of her 75th birthday celebration.”

“Joni Mitchell’s musical adventure is certainly great, but the more I get to know her as a person, the more I am amazed by the woman herself,” said Rufus Wainwright. “When in her presence, the day dissolves and one glimpses something beyond, something very far away, yet oddly more concrete. Everything about her is oraculous. I’m so very honored to be part of her 75th birthday celebration.”

“I am very pleased to take part in these concerts honoring my friend Joni, without doubt one of the greatest writers we have,” said Graham Nash.

Watch Joni perform two of her classics in 1969