Joni Mitchell’s Hejira and Mingus Album Tribute From Nu Civilisation Orchestra Featuring The Vocals Of Eska

Tomorrow’s Warriors Presents Nu Civilisation Orchestra Featuring Eska. Joni Mitchell’s Hejira And Mingus Tour Live At The Lighthouse Poole Review…

Talk about setting yourself a challenge of the highest order. There’s certain things in life that are fundamentally impossible to even fathom. The vastness of space, the meaning of life, or how could the idea arise to emulate Joni Mitchell in a tribute performance?

Thing is, it’s not just Joni’s voice and vocal style to contend with, it’s how she writes. She paints a picture. Words twisting, winding and flowing down avenues. Personal journeys of heartbreak and relationships. Excursions, stories and drama. Poetic ramblings that whisk you through her travels. A colourful palette of road trodden narrative. It would be impossible to try? Right?

In steps Eska Mtungwazi.

Immediately, you know there’s no need to copy. This lady has her own special style. Joni pops out of course. It’s all in the passion. If you going to sing Joni’s songs, then her writing style will encapsulate her mannerisms. This is a beautiful Joni and Eska hybrid of sound. Totally original. Eska’s on stage presence and vocal range burst out. Powerful mostly, at times whispering, whistling. There’s lullabies and scatting in a warm Bobby McFerrin style. Polyphonic harmonies that compliment the orchestra. She also had fun with a MPC sample unit. Recreating sounds that reminded me of Eddie Harris electric saxophone noises. All this, and more, made the genius of Eska’s renditions so creatively unique.

Gilles Peterson on her debut album ESKA (2015) “One of the most important singers right now”

This was not just a tribute to Joni but also to jazz legend Charles Mingus. The performance plays the music from two of Joni’s albums. The 1976 folk rock sounds of Hejira and the more jazz influenced 1979 collaboration with the Charles Mingus, entitled, simply, Mingus. Unfortunately that would be one of his last recordings before he died in the same year.

This is where the foundation of the Nu Civilisation Orchestra comes in. Led by conductor Peter Edwards who had a friendly, elegant manner that instantly warmed the audience to his musicians. A wonderfully talented group which danced between differing tempos of lush soundscapes and big band jazz funk. Three backing singers surrounded Eska’s vocals adding lullabies and harmonies. A quartet of strings and five piece horn section giving depth. The bassist encaptured the original Mingus album’s Jaco Pastorius. The guitarist effortlessly switched from his strings to use his instrument for percussion. The young lady of keyboards had big Herbie Hancock boots to fill. She did of course. Which leaves the beats, drums and percussion. Centre stage, the drummer kept the groove going. Last of all, the percussionist, evoked my ancient wolf bloodline “The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey” as he worked all manner of percussive instruments. You could feel the legend Emil Richards there, too.

Stand out songs – it was all fantastic – but if I had to pick one that I adored hearing live, “Coyote.” That lyric, within that song, A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway, resonates with me.

Where the Lighthouse, might not of been completely sold out, it did produce a more intimate gathering of musical souls. Their passion and love filled any empty seats with cheers and admiration.

So was it an impossible task? Of course not. Eska and Nu Civilisation Orchestra completely smashed it. It was an incredible night.

All the best

Mikey Wolf