The year-end call to the grave continues. This morning they announced Dan Fogelberg’s death; I’d not heard his name in some time but the sheer mention conjured 1970s visions of late night bowlfuls, Frye boots and Mary Tyler Moore. Auld Lang Syne indeed. Last week it was the same with Ike Turner’s passing, though truth be told, when it comes to him all roads lead back to Tina. By the way she’s back (where has she been?) with a stunning version of “Edith and the Kingpin” on Herbie Hancock’s Grammy-nominated River: The Joni Mitchell Letters. Tina’s a standout on a disk that includes Corinne Bailey Rae, Leonard Cohen and Mitchell herself; all coast effortlessly on the current of Hancock’s new arrangements, creating a fusion of sound and stories making us hear anew that which many of us memorized long ago. Listen. And weep.
