Kimberly Ford Creates a Dreamland While Celebrating Joni Mitchell at SOhO

In the 70’s Beatlemania arrived in the US, starring a band of imitators that looked, sounded and danced like the genuine article.  The sales pitch claimed you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between these guys and the real deal.  Look a left handed bass player.

With technology marching along, we now find ourselves blessed with a galaxy of cover/tribute players of every flavor.  A million Elvis’s, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelins and Pink Floyd acts fill clubs and theaters most every week of the year.  Hey, it’s a living.

One act in this genre not to miss played Soho last Sunday and delivered joy to the true fans of one of the greatest songwriter/singers of our time. “Dreamland, a Celebration of Joni Mitchell,” played over two hours without a break, masterfully crafting a set list covering all phases of Joni’s 40 year career.

It’s quite the trick paying proper tribute to Joni, strange guitar tunings and multiple instruments with folk, jazz and rock compositions. Dreamland COJM fronted by Kimberly Ford and backed by a local all-star seven piece ensemble, guided us from the early years forward revealing original arrangements of classic Joni, artfully mastering the fine line between improvisation and blasphemy.  No one can copy Joni, Kimberley doesn’t try, she stays in her lane creating a sound adjacent and respectful to the originals while hitting every note with the strength or delicacy required.

Going in I had no preconceived notions of what was to come, just curious how deep in the Joni playbook would they go.  If you stick with selections from Blue and Court and Spark you could have a wonderful crowd pleasing show but also run the risk missing the essence of the artist you are celebrating.

Fortunately, after a pleasing string of “The Hits”, the show expanded to the less critically received selections of Joni’s catalog, two songs from the Mingus album, three from Hissing of Summer Lawns (the album Rolling Stone called the worst title of 1975) plus a cool mashup of Joni’s Dreamland and Herbie Hancock’s Cantalope Island. 

Putting something like Dreamland a Celebration of Joni Mitchell isn’t just a matter of plugging in and applying haircare products, hats off to Production Director Swen Holcomb who somehow tuned multiple guitars at once and still found time to assist with percussion, guitar and vocals.

George Friedenthal handled the keyboards and much of the arrangements, his technique is flawless and he appears to get better with age.  Tom Etchart the regular bass player with the band passed late last year, Randy Tico filled in admirably, his soloing on the Mingus tracks was inspiring. Dave Hunt on drums, Tom Buckner on saxophone and Lee Rollag on guitar all played with precision and passion.

Kimberly Ford should be thanked for keeping the Dreamland alive, her work on the detail needed to put this tribute together must be rewarded.  If ever you see an opportunity to catch the show, I imagine it will be like what we all experienced last Sunday.  An incredibly attentive and appreciative crowd and a band that worked hard for the wonderful result we all enjoyed.