BLUE: THE MUSIC OF JONI MITCHELL Plays Capitol Center for the Arts, 5/11

Blue: The Music of Joni Mitchell will be at the Capitol Center for the Arts on Friday, May 11, at 8PM. Tickets are $39 and $33 and can be purchased by calling 603-225-1111, online at www.ccanh.com, and at the box office on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Joni Mitchell’s exquisitely crafted words and music shine in this intimate, acoustic concert performed by top New York and Nashville musicians. Taking its title from her landmark 1970 album of poetic confessional songs, the concert presents Blue in its entirety, along with many other favorites from her other early albums, including “Song To a Seagull,” “Clouds,” “Ladies of the Canyon,” “For the Roses” and “Court and Spark.”

“The Great American Songbook.” It’s a phrase that’s used to refer to the songs of the great composers and lyricists of the first half of the 20th century...a time when writers wrote, and singers sang. But what about the work of the great songwriters of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s-the singer/songwriters, whose recordings of their own material are etched in our minds as deeply as the songs themselves? Aren’t their songs as much a part of the Great American Songbook as those of Gershwin, Berlin and Porter?

This is the question that gave rise to “Cover Stories,” the thrilling new concert series celebrating the albums that launched the careers of the major singer/songwriters from the late ’50s to the present. Faithful to the spirit of the original recordings, but featuring new vocal and band arrangements performed by a repertory company of first-rate New York and Nashville musicians. Blue: the Music of Joni Mitchell captures the spirit of the original recordings while reimagining the songs for new voices. This is no mere “tribute” show. It’s a celebration of songs that-though they may be linked in our minds with the original recordings-really belong to all of us, the way great songs always have.

Produced by Ligeti Artists and theshowstore.com, the series is the brainchild of Peter Ligeti, in collaboration with music director, featured artist, and two-time Tony nominated actor Bob Stillman.

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