Deixa-me rir...

"Imagine... a warm summer's evening, by a dark flowing river, under a magical moonlit sky. A stage bathed in purple light. The audience in hushed anticipation, some awaiting the return at last of a cherished hero, others curious to experience for the first time, like me... And then The Man appears, forever stylish in his tailored suit and tie and fedora hat. His band of musicians look equally chic.

This was the scene last summer by Lisbon's river Tejo. And I had the opportunity to re-live this experience once more this summer. No warm evening. No moon. Lots of rain. Well, this was England. But it did not matter.

He performs with the same grace and humility and charisma and humour, and respect for his audience and for his fellow musicians.

His band are exceptionally artistic instrumentalists, the arrangements rhythmic, spanish, cabaret, waltz...

Not everyone likes Leonard Cohen. At least, they think they don't, or they would not, happy to accept the stereotypical belief that his poetic music sounds and therefore must be depressing. Well, he is not a pop singer. But his deep and mellow voice carries the wisdom and sensibilities of a lifetime's experiences. When he speaks he is quiet, understated, the audience captivated in his presence, clinging to his every word, like a congregation to their bishop's sermon.

LC himself makes fun of his mournful image by skipping onto and off the stage and dancing during his band's instrumental solos. He jokes that it is 14 years since he last gave concerts, when he was 60 years old, just a kid with a crazy dream. In that time he tells us that he studied the religions and philosophies of the world, but cheerfulness, cheerfulness kept breaking through.

I think these worldwide concerts have opened the ears and eyes of some sceptical people. And of a new younger generation.

[If anyone is interested to discover more, I found a very good review with excellent pictures which expresses the whole concert experience much better than I can: http://www.lauraleanalle.com/Blog/leonard-cohen-review.html ]

If you are converted, or maybe you too were present, LC has released a new double cd, Live In London, which captures perfectly the aural magic of LC and his band. I hope there will one day be a dvd to capture the visual magic.

But if you still find his voice hard to listen to, I here offer you a compromise:

one of the most magical moments of all; one of the greatest in LC's Tower of Songs, introduced by The Man as a spoken prayer before taking heavenly flight on the wings of the angelic harmonies of his backing singers. Accompanied by a harp. Spell-binding. Sublime.

The Webb Sisters are just two of many wonderful backing singers employed through the years by LC. They are English; how LC discovered them I do not know; but I imagine and hope that they will find their own solo success. I suggest you find and listen also to one of their own compositions, Baroque Thoughts.

Until the next time...

po