WXPN Welcomes ‘Court and Spark’ by Joni Mitchell – 50th Anniversary

Over the last few years, Philadelphia artist Ray Drezner has meticulously transcribed Joni Mitchell's 1974 double-platinum album,Court and Spark. For its 50th anniversary, Drezner's ensemble will play the album LIVE! Confessional and aspirational, Court and Spark is effortlessly eclectic: weaving Joni's folk-rock idiom (Free Man in Paris, Help Me), jazz sonorities (Car on a Hill, Twisted), bawdy barbershop harmonies (Raised on Robbery), and sweeping orchestral interludes (Down to You). The band goes all out with strings, flute, sax, clarinet, and trumpet and features eminent players like theater musician Daniel Espie on keys (Walnut Street Theater, Arden Theater, Wilma Theater), Katie Miller ofKate Dressed Upon acoustic guitar, and National Medal of the Arts Recipient John Anthony DeMaioon electric guitar. Sought after for tight expressive harmonies and expert voice lessons, Ray Drezner has been featured on WXPN's Kids' Corner and the Folk Show, played the Philadelphia Folk Fest, Philly Music Fest, Sofar Sounds events, World Cafe Live, City Winery, Baby's First Rodeo, Wind-Gap Festival and shared the stage with Lavender Country, Amy Helm at the Arden Gild Hall, Doyle Lawson at Sellersville Theater, and many others.