In 2007 Herbie Hancock returned to Verve for the innovative River: The Joni Letters. Hancock had worked with Joni Mitchell intermittently since he guested on her 1979 album, Mingus. River: The Joni Letters took 10 of Mitchell's works and reinterpreted them, with Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Dave Holland on bass, Lionel Loueke on guitar and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums. Produced with Mitchell's long-term collaborator (and ex-husband) Larry Klein, it's a sympathetic and innovative take on her work, with guest artists such as Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae and Leonard Cohen all paying tribute. Mitchell herself sings "The Tea Leaf Prophecy" on the album. Hancock, rightfully, scooped up not just the Best Contemporary Jazz award but also the Album of the Year at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008 for these tender and reflective interpretations. River: The Joni Letters beat a strong field, including career-defining works by Kanye West and Amy Winehouse. It became only the second jazz record to win Album of the Year, the previous one being the legendary Getz/Gilberto collaboration at the 1965 awards.

Musicians:
Herbie Hancock, piano
Wayne Shorter, saxophone
Dave Holland, bass
Lionel Loueke, guitar
Vinnie Colaiuta, drums