Hejira at Fleet Jazz Club

Karen Neville

Sue Tilley tells us about “something really special and unique” at Fleet Jazz Club on July 15th

Hejira, a seven-piece band celebrating the masterpiece works of Joni Mitchell, will be playing in our town on July 15th – so please put that date in your diaries!   

Since their formation just over a year ago, Hejira has been a tremendous success, with sold out shows, standing ovations, a total of over 100k views on their YouTube channel and more than 700 enthusiastic comments and audience reviews. We are honoured to have them perform in Fleet. 

Hejira celebrate and honour the masterpiece works of Joni Mitchell, mostly from the late ‘70s. Having released the albums The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira, Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter and Mingus (regarded as her jazz period), Joni then toured briefly with a band formed from the crème de la crème of contemporaneous jazz musicians (Metheny, Mays, Brecker, Pastorius and Alias). The tour was recorded, producing the outstanding live album, Shadows And Light; it is from this album that Hejira is drawing the body of its repertoire. 

Comprising highly experienced jazz musicians, this band is fronted by the brilliant Hattie Whitehead who not only has – in her own way – assimilated the poise, power and beauty of Joni’s vocals, but also plays guitar with Joni’s stylistic mannerisms. Expect an evening of the ‘great’ songs from Mitchell’s back catalogue, such as Amelia, Woodstock, A Case Of You, Song For Sharon, Edith And The Kingpin and many more. 

Running for over 11 years now, Fleet Jazz Club has both lunch time and evening jazz sessions every month with some of the very best jazz musicians in the country and beyond. We are so lucky to have these wonderful artists, like Hejira visiting our town and you can hear them play at a great price (£22) – certainly not London prices!  

Working in partnership with The Harlington, Fleet’s much-loved performance and community centre, Fleet Jazz Club plays to audiences of over 100 almost every month and has a band of devoted regulars who welcome visitors warmly to the informal setting and, of course, the bar. Don’t be put off by the term ‘club’, everyone is welcome and there is no membership charge. 

For details of all the monthly jazz sessions, including Hejira, please visit fleetjazz.org.uk 

Evening sessions: Doors & bar 7.15pm. Show: 8pm. Tickets: £20 Cabaret Reserved (PLEASE NOTE: Hejira is £22 to reflect the number of musicians). Lunchtime sessions: Doors & bar 11.30am. Show 12pm-1pm. Tickets £10 on the door.