New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Gregory Porter covers
Leonard Cohen with a gorgeous new version of "Suzanne," an all-time favorite from the legendary songwriter's songbook that appeared on his debut album Songs of Leonard Cohen. "It was truly an honor to sing the words and melody of a master craftsman of song," says Porter. "I've long admired his wit, wisdom and courage that's all in the music." 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 line-up of vocalists interpreting Cohen's profound songs. Previously released singles include "Coming Back To You" by
James Taylor, "Famous Blue Raincoat" by
Nathaniel Rateliff, and "Steer Your Way" by Norah Jones.
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 accompanied by an exceptional band featuring saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, guitarist Bill Frisell, pianist
Kevin Hays, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Nate Smith, with additional contributions from Greg Leisz on pedal steel guitar and Larry Goldings on organ. The album comes out Oct. 14 and can be pre-ordered now on D2C exclusive color vinyl, black vinyl, CD, or digital download.
"Leonard Cohen had been a friend since 1982 or so, and in the last 15 years of his life, he became a close friend," says Klein. "He was possibly the wisest and funniest friend that I had, and someone that I enjoyed, immensely, in every way. After he passed away, I found myself frequently covering his songs with other artists that I was working with. One reason, of course, is that the songs are so good, but the other reason was that it helped keep him in the air around me."
So Klein decided to assemble an album's worth of Cohen songs, matching vocalists from different genres with an exceptional core band of jazz-based musicians—or, as he puts it, "a group of the most prescient and forward-looking musicians in the jazz world."
The album's 12 tracks offer a range of Cohen's compositions, with songs drawn from his beloved 1967 debut Songs of
Leonard Cohen all the way up to selections from his final album, You Want It Darker, released just days before his death in 2016. The set covers some of his best-known classics and less familiar deep cuts, all given new life through thoughtful and unexpected arrangements and performances. The resulting collection 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 Award for Album of the Year (and on which one of the featured singers was, in fact, Leonard Cohen).
"It was an immensely gratifying experience to recontextualize these poems, and shine 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."
The track listing for Here It Is: A Tribute to
Leonard Cohen is as follows:
Steer Your Way - Norah Jones
Here It Is -
Peter Gabriel
Suzanne - Gregory Porter
Hallelujah -
Sarah McLachlan
Avalanche - Immanuel Wilkins
Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye - Luciana Souza
Coming Back to You -
James Taylor
You Want It Darker - Iggy Pop
If It Be Your Will - Mavis Staples
Seems So Long Ago, Nancy -
David Gray
Famous Blue Raincoat -
Nathaniel Rateliff
12. Bird on The Wire - Bill Frisell
