Oct 25, 2022 1:04 PM
Blue Note Records Honors Leonard Cohen with Inspired Tribute
There’s a reason why, for more than five decades, Leonard Cohen’s songs have been covered by countless artists…
The Bad Plus will release its latest album, For All I Care (Heads Up) on Feb. 3, 2009, along with a limited-edition, 180-gram double-LP. The trio, composed of bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson and drummer David King, have included two bonus tracks on the double-LP—a cover of U2’s “New Year’s Day” and an original piece by Anderson, “You And I Is A Comfort Zone.”
The album marks the first Bad Plus recording to include a guest vocalist, alt-rock singer Wendy Lewis, as the fourth instrument in its sonic arsenal. In the midst of The Bad Plus’ characteristically unconventional approach, Lewis strove to avoid theatrics and let the lyrics and melodies speak for themselves.
“I’ve really kept it sort of simple and straightforward,” Lewis said. “I can do the vocal gymnastics, but for this project, I chose to just sing the songs. We’re all improvisers in our own way, but I’ve always been a fan of Frank Sinatra, because he just sings the song. There’s something about that approach to this record that just felt right. I just let the melodies be what they are. I didn’t have to mess with them to make them exciting.”
The set includes interpretations of pop/rock tracks including Kurt Cobain’s “Lithium,” Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb,” Yes’ “Long Distance Runaround” and the Bee Gees’ “How Deep is Your Love,” along with 20th century classical pieces by composers including Györgi Ligeti, Milton Babbitt and Igor Stravinsky.
Norah Jones opens Here It Is: A Tribute To Leonard Cohen (Blue Note) with a delicate, wistful rendition of “Steer Your Way.”
Oct 25, 2022 1:04 PM
There’s a reason why, for more than five decades, Leonard Cohen’s songs have been covered by countless artists…
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Flying on an early summer night in a season of tricky air travel, Charles Lloyd’s plane from Ottawa, Canada, touched…
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Cuber had the ability to bring out the lyricism of the baritone saxophone.
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Leo P wants to bring the party back to jazz.
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Named Baritone Saxophonist of the Year in the 87th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll, Leo P will be releasing his debut…
