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Richard Gehr | August 30, 2007

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Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock aims to interpret Joni Mitchell's lyrics as well as her music on River: The Joni Letters, out September 25, and you can listen to Hancock's instrumental take on "Both Sides Now" here (Mac stream) or here (PC stream). Regarding his slow, sensuous take on the tune, Hancock said (in a press release), "There are places I decided would be resting places before I went to the next phrase, which Joni doesn't have on her recording of the song. Completely reharmonizing 'Both Sides Now' seemed appropriate to the lyrics." Beside its four instrumentals, Rivers also includes guest vocals by Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza, and Mitchell herself. Hancock's band includes Wayne Shorter (saxophone) and Dave Holland (bass). Hancock performed with Mitchell on her 1979 album Mingus. He told the Washington Post recently, "It occurred to me that this would be the perfect opportunity to learn something that eluded me for so many years, which is putting lyrics into real focus on one of my records."

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