Hejira: celebrating Joni Mitchell

‘Hejira’ is an outstanding 7-piece band set up to celebrate and honour the masterpiece works of Joni Mitchell, mostly from the late ‘70s.

Having released the albums ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’, ‘Hejira’, ‘Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter’ and ‘Mingus’, Joni then toured briefly with a band formed from the crème de la crème of contemporaneous musicians (Metheny, Mays, Brecker, Pastorius and Alias). The tour was recorded, producing the much-lauded live album, ‘Shadows And Light’; it is from this album that the band Hejira is drawing the body of its repertoire. Comprising highly experienced, world class musicians, this band is fronted by the brilliant Hattie Whitehead who not only has – in her own way – assimilated the poise, power and beauty of Joni’s vocals, but also plays guitar with Joni’s stylistic mannerisms. Expect an evening of the ‘great’ songs from Mitchell’s back catalogue, such as ‘Amelia’, ‘Woodstock’, ‘A Case Of You’, ’Song For Sharon’, ‘Free Man in Paris’ etc.!

Hattie Whitehead ~ vocals & guitar

Ollie Weston ~ tenor & soprano saxophones

Chris Eldred ~ keyboards

Pete Oxley ~ guitar

Dave Jones ~ bass

Rick Finlay ~ drums

Marc Cecil ~ percussion

“They came to listen because they love Joni Mitchell, but they went away loving Hejira.” – Jazzwise, August 2024 

“Whitehead is one of the greatest singers I have ever heard” ~ Jazzwise, March 2024 

“Honestly, one of the most perfect voices I’ve heard in ages…this lady’s voice is stunning” ~ Adam Dowling, BBC Radio Kent, 4th April 2024 

“Whitehead, playing a variety of acoustic and electric guitars, has a beautifully clear vocal style and managed Mitchell’s vocal challenges with apparent ease and great delicacy” ~ Paul Kelly, Director of Swanage Jazz Festival, May 2024