<<Joni doesn't need a collaborator.>>
Truer words were never spoken; she doesn't *need* to ever write another song either
but I hope she does!
<<Collaboration in her writing is not a natural thing for her to do.>>
Maybe that's why I'm intrigued by the possibilities...the challenges that it presents,
as opposed to the downhill coasting. After all, it was her collaboration with Charles
Mingus that produced that record, and songs like Sweet Sucker Dance, Dry Cleaner,
Chair In The Sky, etc.
I think there's a difference between working with a creative equal (Mingus, Pastorius,
Hancock) and working with a spouse. Plus there's the emotional connection. One can't
be truly open to critical honesty when one is working with a spouse or lover, there's
too much emotional baggage. But when the emotions can be put aside, or when there are
no emotional connections to begin with the work comes first and is better as a result.
Back to Mingus...recall that Charles wanted first to put out a record based on T.S.
Eliot pieces, but Joni dismissed that entirely. They recorded the songs they wanted to
go with, but for whatever reason canned them, re-recorded them and they got to where
the project ended up, which was probably the best alternative. That's the kind of give
& take that makes for an effective collaboration, and I guess that's more of what I'd
like to see her involve herself with.
She herself talks of the enormous growth as an artist she experienced with "Mingus".
Bob
NP: James Taylor, "You've Got A Friend"
