The second annual Bread and Roses Festival of Music, held at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley over Labor Day weekend 1978, 2nd - 4th September , proved to be one of the most exciting musical events of the year. The three-day concert series was sponsored by singer Mimi Farina's Bread and Roses organization, which supported free live entertainment in Marin County hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation clinics.
The highlight of the 78 festival was the appearance on the evening of Saturday 2nd by Joni Mitchell and Herbie Hancock. Joni had not performed in public since the Band's, Last Waltz in November of '76, and this show marked the first time she had teamed up with Hancock.
Herbie joined Joni onstage after couple of solo numbers, and together they performed two songs from Joni's upcoming album featuring her words and jazz great Charlie Mingus's music. The tunes were challenging to say the least - Chair In The Sky painted a stunning visual portrait of the aging, ailing Mingus alone in New York and featured moments of dissonance and moments that swung.
On the Sunday afternoon Joni and Herbie played a couple more numbers to help boost poor ticket sales, and with another rendition of The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines notably different to Saturdays version - plus a charming The Circle Game, with The Persuasions, Tim Hardin, Tom Paxton and Odetta - all of whom had played that afternoon- helping out on vocals, it was magical, indeed.
This CD also boasts a couple of dynamic bonus cuts, recorded a decade later but again featuring Joni and Herbie Hancock, but now alongside a plethora of further jazz masters; Wayne Shorter, David Sanborn, Bobby McFerrin and Larry Klein. The occasion was an episode of the Showtime Coast To Coast TV show a program dedicated to live performance, regularly presented by Hancock who would play alongside the studio guests.
- Furry Sings the Blues 05:07
- The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines 03:40
- Introduction of Herbie Hancock 00:52
- A Chair in the Sky 06:53
- Goodbye Pork Pie Hat 06:11
- The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey 07:46
- The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines 2 03:02
- The Circle Game 05:12
- Radio Credits 01:16
BONUS CUTS
- Furry Sings the Blues 02:11
- Heijira 05:07
BONUS CUTS
- Furry Sings the Blues 02:11
- Heijira 05:07
