Available June of 2010, Experience Music Project (EMP) presents Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock 'n' Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash. This dynamic new exhibition showcases some of the most memorable photography in the history of popular music: iconic performance shots of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Nirvana; portraits of Bo Diddley, Joni Mitchell, and Johnny Cash; as well as intimate photographs of Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Yoko Ono. All chosen by a legendary musician who is also highly regarded as a photographer, collector, and pioneer in digital imaging and printing.

As guest curator, Graham Nash brings his rich musical history, keen eye, and storytelling skills to an exhibition of 98 rock 'n' roll images taken by 40 renowned rock photographers, including Anton Corbijn, Lynn Goldsmith, Annie Leibovitz, Daniel Kramer, Jim Marshall, Neal Preston, Mick Rock, Francesco Scavullo, Alfred Wertheimer, and Nash himself. More information here.
 

JoniMitchell.com is back on-line after a bit of an extended absence. Seems the site is getting a little too popular for its own good and is overwhelming our server. In light of this, we regret having to announce that you must now be logged into JoniMitchell.com in order to access the Library of Articles and to do a site-wide search. Registering is a quick process and all we need is to verify that you are a human being with a valid email address. We will never use your email address for anything.

The Library of Articles relies on frequent database access and has come to be "hammered" by automated bots across the globe, overwhelming the server. The only way to keep them out, keep the site up, and keep the site free to everyone is to require a log in. Consider it your own personal Joni Mitchell Library Card. Thanks for your understanding.
 

As Winston Churchill famously said, "It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key." The key to the mysterious boxed set seems to be Joni herself. In an interview with the Vancouver Sun published today, Joni says "I was trying to put together a box set, which I think I'm going to abort, I don't know that I'm going to do it or not. I don't like listening back, no I don't." So there we have it, not a definite no but pretty darn close.
 

On Friday evening, March 17, 1967, Ed Sciaky went to the 2nd Fret (operated by Manny "Money" Rubin) in downtown Philadelphia (on Sansom Street) and recorded an interview with Joni Mitchell. Recorded between sets, this recording was mastered at 7 and a half IPS on Shamrock recording tape, a cheap brand of audio tape but all that college student Ed Sciaky could afford. It was recorded on an Amex 354 mono tape recorder with an RCA 44 microphone. Ed Sciaky spoke into one side of the mic and Joni into the other. Since Joni spoke softly, her level was lower than Ed. The interview was engineered by Mike Biel, a student executive at the station at that time.

The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia (of which Ed is now a member), an organization of 350 area broadcasters, has recently equalized and adjusted the levels of the interview and the complete audio interview is now available on their website. They are proud to make this priceless interview again available to the public. The entire interview has not been heard since it was aired the next evening, Saturday, March 18th on Ed's folk music show called "Broadside," which was broadcast Saturday evenings from 8 pm and 12 midnight over WRTI-FM, the campus radio station of Temple University in Philadelphia. The 1974 airing over WMMR was an excerpt.
 

In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 great voices in recorded history. The series isn't an attempt to catalog the so-called "greatest" singers. Instead, they hope to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. Earlier, NPR asked the public to nominate artists for the series and received thousands of options. NPR and a panel of experts are in the process of whittling them down to about 100 singers - a mix of familiar names and surprising discoveries. Currently, down to around 130 singers, Joni is still in the running! Let's help Joni get recognized as one of the 50 great voices. Cast your vote!

Also, the word from the man on the street is that Reprise has begun handling the new releases from Rhino. There was some concern about Rhino's health and it appears now that there still may be hope for the release of Joni's boxed set what with Reprise stepping in. Sorry for the mere speculation, but the status of this set seems to be the most closely guarded secret since the appointment of the pope. Thanks to Greg for the tip.
 

Jay Blakesberg is a San Francisco-based photographer and video director whose work appears regularly in many magazines, including Rolling Stone and Guitar Player. The March 4 event is a Los Angeles premiere exhibit and will feature over 40 images of recognizable faces from the past and present musical landscape. The range of artists featured will include Radiohead, Nirvana, Willie Nelson Jerry Garcia, Widespread Panic, U2, Joni Mitchell, Phish, Dave Matthews, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more. Opened in 1998, Mr Musichead Gallery is LA's first gallery devoted to featuring a vast and unique collection of album cover art, poster art, fine art and photography that chronicles rock and roll's rich heritage. More info here.
 

Wilton Library's Connecticut's Own Sunday concert series takes a slight departure from chamber music on March 21, when local vocalist Suzanne Sheridan performs "Both Sides Now," a musical tribute from 4 to 5 p.m. Ms. Sheridan, a regular performer with the Exit 43 band, appeared last June at the library's annual meeting with the band, and returns for this solo performance.

The free concert is a tribute to Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Joni Mitchell's greatest hits include "Both Sides Now," "Big Yellow Taxi," "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio," and "Chelsea Morning." Cohen's discography includes "Suzanne," "Anthem," "Like a Bird on a Wire," and "Hallelujah." While reading the book Girls Like Us, Suzanne discovered that Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell were briefly involved in a love affair in the early '70s. Musically, at least, Suzanne has reunited them.

According to Ms. Sheridan, she is "a singer, songwriter and guitarist who loves connecting with people through music." She has won honors in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and has sung jingles for Pepsi, Hardees, Hasbro, Texaco and others. As a songwriter, she has penned "90 Pound Suburban Housewife Driving in Her SUV." She also is a guitarist, photographer, workshop leader and a resident of Westport. She performs in theaters, churches, hospitals and clubs, and her solo singing career has taken her internationally as well.

Wilton Library's Connecticut's Own concert series is free of charge. Advance registration is recommended. Pre-registrants must arrive by 3:50 p.m. to be guaranteed seating. After 3:50 p.m., and if space is available, waitlisted and walk-in registrants will be admitted. For information, directions and to register, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org or call (203) 762-3950 ext. 213. Wilton Library is located in the heart of Wilton Center, Connecticut at 137 Old Ridgefield Road. The final concert date in the series is April 25 with Larry Shiller and Olga Gurevich.