(Photo by TimN)
THE BAND
Leonard Cohen - vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboard.
Roscoe Beck - bass, double bass, background vocals
Neil Larsen - keyboards, Hammond B3, accordion
Bob Metzger - guitar, steel guitar, background vocals
Javier Mas - bandurria, laud, archilaud
Rafael Bernardo Gayol - drums, percussion
Dino Soldo - keyboard, saxophone, wind instruments, dobro, background vocals
Sharon Robinson - vocals, shaker
Hattie Webb - vocals, harp
Charley Webb - vocals, guitar
What can you say? The re-emergence of Leonard Cohen and the respect that has been shown to him is to me one of the greatest things to have happened in music in recent times, even if it was due to very sad circumstances.
I was lucky enough to catch him twice in recent years and they were two of the most joyous gigs I have ever been to.
His new album 'Old Ideas' starts with the lines:
I love to speak with Leonard
He’s a sportsman and a shepherd
He’s a lazy bastard
Living in a suit
But he does say what I tell him
Even though it isn’t welcome
He will never have the freedom
To refuse...
...and to be honest I cannot make up my mind as to whether this is a subtle reference that perhaps he is telling us that this will be his last album or not.
I can hope that it isn't but if there was ever a man entitled to enjoy his remaining years (and may there be many more) then it is Mr. Cohen. Having said that boy does he enjoy performing as you will see for yourself in the video above.
Also please take time to visit 'Dangerous Minds' where Marc has posted an amazing documentary of the five years that Leonard Cohen spent at the Mt Baldy Zen Centre.Bonus:
Leonard Cohen: Live at The Isle of Wight (1970)
No comments:
Post a Comment