Celebrating Joni Mitchell’s 75th bday in Sonoma

“Oh, I could drink a case of you, Darling…Still be on my feet. I would still be on my feet.” – “A Case of You,” Joni Mitchell

In celebration of Joni Mitchell’s 75th birthday next week, Santa Barbara’s Kimberly Ford is setting out on a mini-tour of California. She brings her five-piece band, and “A Celebration of Joni” to El Verano’s the Reel Fish Shop and Grille on Nov. 8 at 9 p.m.

Joni Mitchell exploded onto the music scene in 1968. During her career, she has released 19 albums that have earned her nine Grammy Awards. AllMusic.com has said, “When the dust settles, Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century.”

A boni fide musician’s musician, Mitchell has a long list of people who have recorded her songs, played with her, and named her as a primary influence. Kimberly Ford is one of those people.

Reached at her home in Santa Barbara, Ford told how she grew up in a lively household that included her grandpa, a country music fiddler. The Fresno area almond ranch where she was raised, and that fiddle, gave her a taste of country and gospel music. It also provided her with her first driving experience. Said Ford: “My first car was a tractor.”

They later moved to the San Jose area. In junior high school, Ford joined the choir, learned about singing and show tunes. A new direction in life began to emerge.

Ford discovered Mitchell’s album “Blue” while attending high school in Cupertino. The young vocalist was deep into the Gilbert and Sullivan song book, and the wonderful Mitchell material “struck a chord with me.”

She began to perform professionally at age 18. She pointedly asked, “Does anybody really make money playing music?” She sang in trios, and later in jazz groups. Interestingly, during her “misspent youth,” she also worked as a ski instructor and white-water rafting guide.

That adventurous spirit can be heard in her version of Mitchell’s “Carey,” a song she is sure to perform at the Reel. In the song, her band launches into a second-line drumbeat. “We spun it in a whole different way,” Ford said. Another song her band plays, “All I Want,” is almost like a Latin song, it’s upbeat, added Ford.

Ford has taught a class about Joni Mitchell at Santa Barbara City College. Ford said, “People really loved it. They wanted more.” She has also taught classes at SBCC in singing and jazz standards.

In recent years, Ford has become active on an online site called “Joni Mitchell Discussion List.” She has performed at the group’s “JoniFest” several times.

In “A Celebration of Joni Mitchell,” Ford is backed by five other musicians, all of whom share a passion for Mitchell’s music. In their early days together, after the band mastered their version of “Woodstock,” drummer Charles Levin was duly impressed. He said, “Let’s do a whole set of this stuff.”

Now, after some time letting Mitchell’s lyrics and music steep, Ford is excited about the “Celebration” endeavor. She says, “You gotta hear this stuff. It’s really cool.”

Check out celebrationofjonimitchell.com; kimberlyford.com.