Joni Mitchell: “Edith and the Kingpin” (with Jaco Pastorius & Bobbye Hall) Live in Sacramento, 1976

The Jaco Pastorius Archive just dropped another excellent piece of Jaco Pastorius and Joni Mitchell history. This was recorded 48 years ago today.

Here’s the background, via JPA:

“Less than a week before she would hit the stage at The Band’s farewell concert The Last Waltz, Joni Mitchell, along with bassist Jaco Pastorius and percussionist Bobbye Hall, would perform at the California Celebrates the Whale concert in Sacramento, California.

“With the concert taking place two days before the release of her folk jazz masterpiece Hejira, it also featured two songs from her previous studio album ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’ (‘Shadows and Light’ and ‘Edith and the Kingpin’), and one from her upcoming 1977 album ‘Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter’ (‘Jericho’). Folk singers Fred Neil and Debbie Andersen joined to end the set with a performance of ‘The Dolphins,’ a song from Neil’s self-titled sophomore album.

“While Joni & co. would also perform ‘Edith and the Kingpin’ on her tour of 1979, I don’t think those renditions — or any, in fact — top this stripped-down version. The slower tempo combined with Jaco’s beautiful fretless bass make Joni’s vocal melody shine and give this song a very melancholic tone. Joni Mitchell and Jaco would continue working together for her next two studio albums, ‘Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter’ (1977) and ‘Mingus’ (1979), and play on the live album ‘Shadows and Light’ (1980).

“More 1976 live recordings were finally issued on the fourth volume of the ‘Joni Mitchell Archives‘ box set series (released earlier this month), though none of them feature Jaco and Bobbye Hall. A lot of material that does feature Jaco was issued, though, including demos, outtakes and 1979 tour recordings. Well worth checking out if you’re into Joni and Jaco’s collaborations!”