Joni Mitchell Announces New Jazz Compilation, Shares “Be Cool” Demo: Listen

A new compilation of Joni Mitchell’s jazz music has been announced. Spanning her 1968 debut, Song to a Seagull, through her performance at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival, Joni’s Jazz traces Mitchell’s longstanding love affair with the titular genre. The 61-track release features rare and unreleased live recordings, demos, and alternate takes. Check out the full tracklist and listen to a demo of “Be Cool,” from 1982’s Wild Things Run Fast, below.

Mitchell is dedicating Joni’s Jazz to Wayne Shorter. “It was a joy to play with him,” she said of the late jazz great. “He will be missed, but he will remain alive for me in this music.” The project features Mitchell’s collaborations with Shorter, as well as those with jazz legends Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, and Charles Mingus.

Joni’s Jazz will be out September 5, via Rhino, in 8xLP and 4xCD box set formats. The physical editions are accompanied by liner notes, photographs, and some of Mitchell’s original artwork. It’s also being released digitally.

Read the Sunday Review of Mitchell’s 1976 album, Hejira, and revisit Andy Cush’s article “Joni Mitchell Is Still Singing ‘Both Sides Now.’”