‘Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen‘ was produced by Larry Klein and hits stores October 14th. Includes guest appearances by Norah Jones, Peter Gabriel, Gregory Porter, Sarah McLachlan, Luciana Sousa, James Taylor, Iggy Pop, Mavis Staples, David Dray, and Nathaniel Rateliff
Norah Jones sings Leonard Cohen with a passionate new version of ‘Steer Your Way‘, a song that appeared on the legendary songwriter’s final album, You Want It Darker. “I loved singing this song because it’s newer, but it has all the qualities of some of your older classic songs,” says Jones. It’s the latest single from ‘Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen’, a remarkable album produced by Larry Klein that features an extraordinary lineup of vocalists interpreting Cohen’s deep songs. Previously released singles include ‘Coming Back To You‘ by James Taylor and ‘Famous Blue Raincoat’ by singer Nathaniel Rateliff.
‘Here It Is‘ also includes contributions from Peter Gabriel, Gregory Porter, Sarah McLachlan, Luciana Souza, Iggy Pop, Mavis Staples and David Gray. The vocalists are joined by an exceptional band consisting of saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, guitarist Bill Frisell, pedal steel guitarist Greg Liesz, pianist Kevin Hays, organist Larry Goldings, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Nate Smith. The album is released on October 14th and is available for pre-order in several formats: color vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and digital download.
“Leonard Cohen had been a friend since 1982 or so, and for the last 15 years of his life, he became a close friend,” says Klein. “He was possibly the wisest and funniest friend I ever had, and someone I really liked, in every way. After he died, I found myself doing versions of his songs with other artists I was working with. One reason, of course, is that the songs are really good, but the other reason was that it helped keep him around.”
Klein decided to create an album of Cohen’s songs, bringing together singers of different genres with an exceptional band of musicians anchored in jazz – or, as he puts it, “a group of the most prescient and visionary musicians in the world of jazz“.
The album’s 12 songs feature a variety of Cohen’s compositions, with songs taken from his acclaimed 1967 debut ‘Songs of Leonard Cohen‘ to selections from his latest album ‘You Want It Darker‘, released just days before his release. death in 2016. The lineup encompasses some of his best-known classics and less familiar themes, all given new life through deep and unexpected arrangements and interpretations. This project is ultimately reminiscent of the concept that guided Klein’s production of Herbie Hancock’s 2007 album ‘River: The Joni Letters‘, which won the GRAMMY for Album of the Year (and in which one of the singers in highlight was, in fact, Leonard Cohen).
“It was a very gratifying experience to recontextualize these poems and shed a different light on them,” Klein continues. “I hope that this musical language that we developed together, the context that we put these things in, makes the songs connect with people in a new way.”
‘Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen‘ lineup:
1. Steer Your Way – Norah Jones
2. Here It Is – Peter Gabriel
3. Suzanne – Gregory Porter
4. Hallelujah – Sarah McLachlan
5. Avalanche – Immanuel Wilkins
6. Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye – Luciana Souza
7. Coming Back to You – James Taylor
8. You Want It Darker – Iggy Pop
9. If It Be Your Will – Mavis Staples
10. Seems So Long Ago, Nancy – David Gray
11. Famous Blue Raincoat – Nathaniel Rateliff
12. Bird on The Wire – Bill Frisell
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