With her 1974 masterpiece Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell transforms from folk singer into something harder to define.

Her piano playing matures. Her songwriting blossoms into one of the richest harmonic and melodic color palettes we've ever heard up to this point. Not to mention her incredible lyricism and melodies. And she brings a new production sensibility from her backing band: a group of jazz musicians called The LA Express.

In this episode of You'll Hear It, Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin break down Joni Mitchell's greatest artistic achievement (and her greatest commercial success) track-by-track. You'll never hear Court and Spark the same way again

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Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/

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Blue: https://youtu.be/ly6ENKGV-S8

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About You'll Hear It:

In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.

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Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:
https://youllhearit.com/newsletter

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00:00 Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell
00:32 New From Open Studio
03:37 Joni's Sound Before Court and Spark
10:04 Joni Starts Hanging Out With Jazz Musicians
11:07 🎧 "Court and Spark" - Alluding To An Epic
15:25 Three Songwriters in One, At the Highest Level
15:57 🎧 "Help Me" - Joni DELIVERS
19:09 🎧 "Free Man In Paris"
22:02 🎧 "Midnite Flite" - Tom Scott and The LA Express
23:25 🎧 "People's Parties"
25:55 🎧 "The Same Situation"
28:05 Joni's Lyrical Prowess
31:38 🎧 "Car On A Hill"
34:31 🎧 "Down To You" - A Perfect Song
39:54 Joni's Vocal Instrument
42:17 🎧 "Just Like This Train" - A MASTERCLASS In Lydian Mode
45:32 🎧 "Raised on Robbery" - What Genre Is This?!
48:09 🎧 "Trouble Child"
49:52 🎧 "Twisted" - The Only Cover On the Album
53:55 Desert Island Tracks
55:42 Best Moments On Court and Spark
57:13 How Snobby Is This Album?

Jazz musicians Adam Maness and Peter Martin review their three favorite songs from Michael Jackson's most iconic albums: Bad, Thriller and Off the Wall. And their choices aren't what you might expect.

Plus - Adam, Peter and the Open Studio band play their jazzy interpretation of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.

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Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs:
https://openstudiojazz.com/

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Off the Wall: https://youtu.be/jR9zxGueeq4

Thriller: https://youtu.be/KZx6W3SI8JA

Bad: https://youtu.be/XgcI9LkZqeo

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About You'll Hear It:

In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.

-------------------------------

Sign up for the You'll Read It newsletter for little known stories about the artists you love:
https://youllhearit.com/newsletter

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00:00 The Top 3 Songs on Bad, Thriller and Off the Wall
00:55 #3
05:02 #2
12:23 #1
16:40 "Smooth Criminal" - Open Studio

Adam Maness brings you the freshest releases of May 2026!

0:00 Intro
0:50 Jeff Parker
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/happy-today
3:45 Greg Hutchinson
https://www.allmusic.com/album/kind-of-now-mw0004778588
6:15 Chris Potter
https://chrispotterjazz.bandcamp.com/album/alive-with-ghosts-today
9:09 New Jazz Underground
https://www.allmusic.com/album/hoodies-mw0004791891
11:04 Virginia MacDonald
https://virginiamacdonald.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of
13:00 Harry Skoler
https://harryskoler1.bandcamp.com/album/echoes
15:05 Laurie Anderson & Sexmob
https://laurieanderson.bandcamp.com/album/let-x-x-live
17:06 Alabaster DePlume
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/dear-children-of-our-children-i-knew-epilogue
19:31 Ben Wolfe
https://benjonah.bandcamp.com/album/any-time-after-now
21:30 Joe Lovano
https://joelovano.com/recordings/paramount-quartet/