Jan Elliott channels her love and passion for the music of Joni Mitchell, bringing a lot of the magic and some of the mysticism along the way.
Elliott is originally from Christchurch but is now ensconced in the wild west hippie bohemian community of the Waitakere Ranges. Green and wild in all ways including the intoxicant of choice.
She is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. West Auckland is an artist’s enclave similar to the fabled Laurel Canyon of the Sixties and Seventies. Mitchell was a reigning Queen Joni Approximately there after breaking through in the Folk clubs of New York City.
In the last half dozen years, Elliott has immersed herself in Mitchell’s music, in collaboration with guitarist Cadzow Cossar. A formidable duo, Cossar once did time with Rick Bryant and the Jive Bombers, of whom I followed religiously in the halcyon days of the Gluepot.
The Jan Elliott Group became a trio with the recent addition of electric bass guitarist Stephen Moody, who adds an effective Jazz to Pop bottom.
The early Folk period has been Elliotts favourite from what she’s told us in past performances. She adds her own interpretive style, which takes her out of pure cover band territory. An agile melodic voice which can reach the high peaks with a nice finesse.
Opens with Chelsea Morning and we can hear a rhythmic drive behind the Folk phrasing.
Then the bass guitar enters the stage for You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio. A warm tone anchoring the acoustic guitars. Some falsetto accents from the singer.
There was a recent tribute concert to women in Rock, called Atomic 2.0. It featured artists like Debbie Harry/Blondie, Grace Slick, Marianne Faithful.
An all-female line-up from guest singers to backing band. It was curious that there were no Joni songs, even though her influence is huge on female artists. Especially so in attitude of rebellion and pushing back against the patriarchal and misogynist behaviour of the popular music industry.
A recent website article I came across and Mitchell told us that Big Yellow Taxi was based on the chord progression off Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode. She was a big admirer
The first song I fell in love with of hers when I was about ten. It has a rollicking rhythmic playfulness matched to acerbic satirical lyrics.
I was trying to locate that essence when Jan Elliott played her version. It is probably in the boogie piano of Johnnie Johnson which gave Berry’s music it’s forward momentum and swing. The definition and dictionary of Rock’n’roll.
Raised on Robbery also has that Berry swing of motorvatin’ down the highway. An irreverent nature and Elliott makes this her tribute to Mother’s Day.
Just to be clear, Debbie Harry and Marianne Faithful were both Folkies when they started.
Chinese Café is a highlight tonight. Reveals Mitchell with a strong literary songwriting sense like Lou Reed (who considered himself a novelist).
We were wild in the old days/ Birth of Rock’n’roll days. Entwined with the beautiful Unchained Melody. Some heartbreak and pain in mentioning the daughter she could not keep and raise.
In biographies, Mitchell has related this to the creative impulse for her songwriting.
Coyote is a great song that Mitchell wrote on the Rolling Thunder Revue tour with Dylan. Nice wah-wah scratch electric guitar matched to James Jamerson style personified bass.
Twisted has a Jazz vocal treatment. Written by Annie Ross and Mitchell’s version had a cameo from Cheech and Chong, which Cossar and Moody stand in for.
People’s Party is off Elliott’s favourite album Court and Spark. Mitchell was a participant and an observer. Coke-addled wild parties, Joker Jack leering, bi-polar emotional switches. Dionysian and a Bacchanalian.
Soothed down by Circle Game as the penultimate song. The Folkie Boomer audience join in on this as the band cast a healing spell.
Jan Elliot sings and plays the portrait of a legendary artist. Deserving a Nobel like Dylan, of course.
Rev. Orange Peel
YES-it was a fabulous concert of good music and a true tribute to Joni Mitchell. Thankyou Jan and fellow musicians for this night in our superb Titirangi Lopdell Theatre. We are lucky to have lived in the halcyon days of the 1960-70s when Joni, Dylan, Leonard Cohen and other great singer songwriters produced such iconic music.