6 Facts About Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters
It won Album of the Year at the 2008 Grammys. This made it only the second jazz album ever to win that award.
The first jazz Album of the Year winner was Getz/Gilberto in 1965. That album featured “The Girl from Ipanema.”
River: The Joni Letters is a tribute album to Joni Mitchell. Hancock reimagines her songs with jazz arrangements.
The album features guest vocalists like Norah Jones and Tina Turner. Each singer performs a different Joni Mitchell song.
Hancock himself plays piano throughout the album. He leads a small ensemble that includes saxophonist Wayne Shorter.
The album was a commercial and critical success. It reached number one on Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums chart.