Sasha Weiss

over the course of many years, which, you know, led up to this moment of coming back to the stage, you know, where she'd gather with musician friends. And I think Brandy really facilitated it and all these different people would come.

But it seemed like there was a core group.

But it seemed like there was a core group.

Those were the people on stage who clearly had a long running experience singing with her. Like an ability to improvise that seemed to me to be drawing from the experience of having done a lot of work together. But the stage, I mean, it felt very intimate. And from where I was sitting, like everyone sort of seemed in a pile. So it was like, you know, it was both really like an ensemble.

Those were the people on stage who clearly had a long running experience singing with her. Like an ability to improvise that seemed to me to be drawing from the experience of having done a lot of work together. But the stage, I mean, it felt very intimate. And from where I was sitting, like everyone sort of seemed in a pile. So it was like, you know, it was both really like an ensemble.

And yes, Joni was this commanding presence. Yeah.

And yes, Joni was this commanding presence. Yeah.

Part of the feeling that I got of her being in command was the set list, which I felt like she was preaching. She was not bringing nostalgia and comfort.

Part of the feeling that I got of her being in command was the set list, which I felt like she was preaching. She was not bringing nostalgia and comfort.

I did feel like I was being schooled in a really good way. I mean, there's a quality of attention that you have to bring to her new register. And there's such a depth and a richness. I mean, I kept thinking of wood grain, like it just felt so rich and, you know, so much to hear and think about and movement. But I mean, maybe it's also about the reverence. Like, you could hear the crickets.

I did feel like I was being schooled in a really good way. I mean, there's a quality of attention that you have to bring to her new register. And there's such a depth and a richness. I mean, I kept thinking of wood grain, like it just felt so rich and, you know, so much to hear and think about and movement. But I mean, maybe it's also about the reverence. Like, you could hear the crickets.

Maybe you always can in the Hollywood Bowl. But I felt it was about a sense, again, it's this kind of energetic gravitas. And I did feel she was demanding a kind of listening, partly in the choice of song. She wanted a hush. And choosing those later songs, like, it didn't create the excitation, right? Like, it created something else that was unusual, right?

Maybe you always can in the Hollywood Bowl. But I felt it was about a sense, again, it's this kind of energetic gravitas. And I did feel she was demanding a kind of listening, partly in the choice of song. She wanted a hush. And choosing those later songs, like, it didn't create the excitation, right? Like, it created something else that was unusual, right?

I also think... there is a really special kind of listening going on on the stage.

I also think... there is a really special kind of listening going on on the stage.

Well, I think this gets back to the way that these concerts came about. I mean, you know, this is what I understand from reading and listening around, you know, that she had these regular gatherings.

Well, I think this gets back to the way that these concerts came about. I mean, you know, this is what I understand from reading and listening around, you know, that she had these regular gatherings.

And at first she wasn't singing much because she couldn't and she was still recovering. And I think over time she started to chime in, you know, and sometimes it was just with a line or two. Sometimes, you know, I think as her voice strengthened, it was more and more. And eventually she started to pick up the guitar. Mm-hmm.

And at first she wasn't singing much because she couldn't and she was still recovering. And I think over time she started to chime in, you know, and sometimes it was just with a line or two. Sometimes, you know, I think as her voice strengthened, it was more and more. And eventually she started to pick up the guitar. Mm-hmm.

I felt very much the attunement of the other musicians to her, which I guess with any great band, you feel that. But it felt really potent because I felt like they really understood when she was taking over the song.