KW-16-2016: 75 JAHRE BOB DYLAN – 75 Beiträge zu Dylans 75. Geburtstag – (2/75 – kurzvitas – out of the archives ): COHEN & DYLAN – Performances, in Concert, Music & Poetry, Anecdotes & Infos. the neverending & everlasting comparison. COHEN & DYLAN – Some critical anaylises – by Christof Graf

II.I. Kurzvita Bob Dylan

anlässlich Dylans ersten Auftritt in Saarbrücken 2009.

II.II Kurzvita Leonard Cohen

anlässlich Cohens 80. Geburtstag und Veröffentlich seines „Popular Problems“-Albums 2014.

KW-16-2016: 75 JAHRE BOB DYLAN – 75 Beiträge zu Dylans 75. Geburtstag – (1/75): COHEN & DYLAN – Performances, in Concert, Music & Poetry, Anecdotes & Infos. the neverending & everlasting comparison. COHEN & DYLAN – Some critical anaylises – by Christof Graf

I. Introduction

Der eine ist Kanadier, der andere Amerikaner. Beide sind Juden. Der eine beschäftigte sich intensivst mit dem Christentum, der andere mit Zen-Buddhismus. Für die Dylanologen ist Leonard Cohen ebenso Legende, wie für die Cohenisten Bob Dylan eine Legende ist. „Let us compare mythologies“ nannte Leonard Cohen einst einer seiner Gedichtbände. „Dont follow leaders“ beschwor Dylan schon in den 60ern seine Jünger, Cohen & Dylan gehören wohl zu den größten Rockpoeten des 20. und vielleicht auch des 21. Jahrhunderts, vielleicht sind sie auch die beiden größten, wichtigsten und einflussreichsten Rockpoeten der Populären Kultur seit Mitte des letzten Jahrhunderts. Sie haben vieles gemeinsam, und doch sind sie grundverschieden. Der eine hieß Robert Zimmerman und wurde als Bob Dylan weltberühmt, der andere auch, behielt aber seinen Namen. Trotz ihrer Unterschiede sind sie Seelenverwandte und begneteten sich ihr Leben lang. Es gibt zahlreiche Artikel und Essays, unendlich viele Anekdoten und Informationen über die die beiden, wie z.B. die immer wieder zitierte, dass Dylan 15 Minuten für den Song „Isis“ und Cohen über zwei Jahre für sein. „Hallelujah“. Cohen sang z.B. nie einen Song von Dylan, Dylan dagen sehr wohl einen von Cohen. Beide besuchten sich bis in die 2000er Jahre gegenseitig in Konzerten. Beide lebten in den 60ern im Künstler-Hotel „Chelsea“ in New York Ciity. In den 70ern lud Dylan Cohen sogar zu einer gemeinsamen Tournee ein. In den 80ern nannte der eine den anderen Picasso und der andere den einen Matisse. Der eine brachte bis dato „nur“ 14 Studio-Alben heraus, der andere 37. Ende der 80er begann der eine seine „neverending Tournee“, während der andere in den 90ern sich für 15 Jahre aus dem Rock-Business zurückzog. Der eine nannte Aretha Franklin als Idol für Bühnenpräsenz, der andere coverte gleich ein ganzes Tribute-Album To Frank Sinatra. Der eine feiert dieses Jahr seinen 82. Geburtstag, der andere feiert am 24. Mai 2016 seinen 75. Geburtstag. All das und viel mehr gibt Anlass und macht Freude, diese beiden Rocklegenden mit einem nie enden wollenden und immer währenden Vergleich zu ehren.

KW-16-2016: 1. Mai 2016. Der erste Tag im Monat des Jahres, in dem der „andere“ große Songwriter, BOB DYLAN 75 Jahre alt. Genauer gesagt , am 24. Mai. Bis dahin gibt es in der COHENPEDIA 75 Beiträge, Infos, Essays, Fotos bezüglich es „ewigen“ Vergleichs zwischen LEONARD COHEN & BOB DYLAN.

KW-16-2016: Die Rückkehr des Vinyls – Cohen`s Bootlegs erleben auf Vinyl eine Renaissance. Heute, am 1. Mai 2016 gab es nach einem Jahr der Abstinenz wieder eine CD-Börse. 90 % der Angebote waren auf Vinyl, darunter auch zwei seltene Cohen-Bootlegs und ein Sampler.

KW-16-2016: Leonard Cohen und … Barcley James Harvest….? (Part III) – Heute treten John Lee`s Barcley James Harvest in Zweibrücken auf. John Lee singt während des Interviews Leonard Cohen`s „Like A Bird On A Wire“ an, merkt aber an, dass er eigentlich gar nicht auf Cohen oder die alten Songwriter steht. Ein Auszug des Interviews gabs in DIE RHEINPFALZ am 20. April 2016. Das Interview fand am 17. April in St. Wendel statt. – Ein kleiner Presse-Spiegel von Christof Graf.

Im Anschluss an das Interview gabs noch einen Schnappschuss mit BJH.

In den Vorwochen gab es noch einige weitere Berichterstattungen zur Tournee…

KW-16-2016: PERLA BATALLA – Die ehemalige Sängerin und Tourmusikerin von Leonard Cohen 1988 und 1993 gibt auch 2016 wieder Konzerte. Heute z.B. in Los Angeles.

Perla Batalla: Blue House; Hearts on the Outside at CSU Channel Islands

Fri, Apr 29, 2016 at 5:00 PM – Camarillo, CA

Fri, Apr 29, 2016 at 5:00 PM

Event Description

World renowned and Grammy-nominated singer Perla Batalla will be performing on the CSU Channel Islands campus on April 29. Perla is best known for her ten years as a vocalist with Leonard Cohen during which she traveled all over the world while musically supporting Cohen in his concerts.

At 5pm on Friday April 29, Perla Batalla will be leading a performance of Blue House; Hearts on the Outside on the CSU Channel Islands campus. Blue House is a musical dramatic piece that was inspired by the frescos, canvasses and private journals of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Then, after a one-hour break, she will perform an 8pm concert that draws from her Mestiza album and also her work with Leonard Cohen.

In 2011 she was commissioned by LACMA to compose and perform an original composition to celebrate the opening of “In Wonderland: the Adventures of Women Surrealists in Mexico and the U.S.” The following years found her building that spark of an idea into a play, Blue House; Hearts on the Outside, working with David Batteau, her writing partner. This powerful theater piece is inspired by two of the most significant painters of the 20th century: Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Critics say:

…Batalla has a glorious, supple voice, with the vocal power to sing the bluesy, Bonnie Raitt-styled „Holy Roses“ and the finesse needed to bring new shadings to Leonard Cohen’s „Bird on a Wire…” – Variety

“…Perla Batalla is the kind of artist Peter Gabriel would fall in love with. Comfortable in both English and Spanish, proud of her mestiza heritage, musically adventurous and accompanied by impeccable performers, Batalla would make a fitting addition to Gabriel’s Real World record label roster…Listen to folky Batalla epics such as „Eternity“ and „Turtle Island“ and you hear a Chicana Joni Mitchell, a gutsier Joan Baez, an idealistic artist…Batalla’s music caresses with its harmonies and gentle rhythms, then draws you in with an unexpected chorus or an unusual melodic resolution. But above all, she is a born storyteller with a rambunctious sense of humor…” – Ernesto Lechner, LA Times

Perla writes, “At a time when art and music are marginalized in the education of youth, I am more than ever committed to educational outreach as I travel throughout the country. Exposing young audiences to the beauty of art, music, and poetry through live theater, may be the only hope we have.”

Following the performance of Blue House, Perla will take an hour break and perform a concert which will feature songs by Leonard Cohen and songs from her Mestiza heritage.

For more information on Perla, please go to www.perla.com

KW-16-2016: PRINCE – Er inspirierte sogar Leonard Cohen. T.A.F.K.A.P. war einer von wenigen unverkennbaren Künstlern in „the art of singing & songwriting“. Eine Erinnerung an PRINCE – Teil 2 – von Christof Graf

KW-15-2016: Oh nein, heute ist PRINCE gestorben. – Er inspirierte sogar Leonard Cohen. T.A.F.K.A.P. war einer von wenigen unverkennbaren Künstlern in „the art of singing & songwriting“. Eine Erinnerung an PRINCE – von Christof Graf

21. April 2016. Prince ist tot. Die Sprecherin des Sängers sagte gegenüber der Nachrichtenagentur AP ,dass er am Donnerstagmorgen im Alter von 57 Jahren in seinem Tonstudio Paisley Park in Minnesota verstarb.

Prince Live in Rotterdam. Foto: Christof Graf

Woran er starb, ist noch unbekannt. Das amerikanische Portal „TMZ“ berichtete zuerst vom Tod des Weltstars. Laut eines Berichts der AP fanden die Polizisten, die als erste am Ort des Geschehens eintrafen, Prince leblos in einem Fahrstuhl vor. Wiederbelebungsmaßnahmen waren erfolglos.

Rotterdam, Trier und Frankfurt. Das war für mich Prince – Live in Concert. Zudem war er im letzten Jahr in Montreux mit dabei,…

in: SAARBRÜCKER ZEITUNG

in: SAARBRÜCKER ZEITUNG, 24.12.1998

in: DIE RHEINPFALZ, 24.12.1998

KW-15-2016: 50 Jahre Montreux Jazz Festival – Teil 2

50 SUMMERS OF MUSIC

Publication of the 50th anniversary book for the Montreux Jazz Festival on 15 June 2016 by Éditions Textuel

Texts by Arnaud Robert Preface by Mathieu Jaton, director of the Montreux Jazz Festival

Release date: 15 June 2016

45€, 69 CHF 400 pages, 175 photographs

Co-published by Éditions Textuel and Montreux Jazz Festival

Cover: Dizzy Gillespie doing his gym exercises on the carpet of the Montreux Palace in 1975. © Giuseppe Pino

June 1967: on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, a ball of energy named Claude Nobs embarks on one of the most exciting musical adventures of our time. fifty years later, the story of the Montreux Jazz Festival is told by those who made it. The voice of Nina Simone, the trumpet of Miles Davis and the guitar of B.B. King echo through these candid recollections by people like Quincy Jones, Carlos Santana and Lenny Kravitz. Sixty stars relive highlights in the history of live music, a history that Montreux is still writing. Their words are echoed in 175 photographs, many previously unpublished, which capture this legendary festival, both backstage and onstage.

A half century of emergencies, of unbelievable stories, and of incandescent beauty. A half century of audiovisual recording archives now registered as a World Heritage by UNESCO.

This story, which is still being written, is presented through nearly 200 photographs. Mostly never before published, these images bring this legendary festival to life, on stage and behind the scenes. This book does not claim to tell “the beautiful history” of this unique festival. It leaves that to the artists.

50th Montreux Jazz Festival from 1 to 16 July 2016 www.montreuxjazzfestival.com

Relive the best moments of this musical odyssey through our interactive video: www.montreuxjazz.com/50

KW-14-2016: Leonard Cohen und … die Festivals. Das Montreux Jazz Festival ist das zweitälteste der Welt. Älter ist lediglich das Montreal Jazz Festival in Cohens Heimatsstadt. Das Montreux Jazz Festival feiert 2016 sein 50jähriges Bestehen. Diese Woche wurde das Programm für das 50. Montreux Jazz Festival bekanntgegeben. Leonard Cohen ist nicht dabei, dafür aber Neil Young, Patti Smith u.v.m. – Das 50. Montrezx Jazz Festival 2016 – Text & Fotos: Christof Graf

Das Auditorium Stravinsky in Montreux: Leonard Cohen 2008: Fotos: Christof Graf

50

PROGRAMME FOR THE JUBILEE EDITION OF THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL

The programme for this anniversary edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival has been constructed like an echo of the historic depth of this Swiss event. Dense and vibrant, this 50th offering merits being examined in detail. It is marked by an array of projects and lineups imagined especially for the occasion, combining great artistic friendships and the promise of fresh new musical talents.

On the marquee among others: Neil Young, PJ Harvey, Sigur Rós, Patti Smith, Lana Del Rey, M83, Muse, Ernest Ranglin and Friends, Scofield Mehldau Guiliana, Christian Scott, Jean-Michel Jarre, Future, Woodkid and Friends, Beirut, Grimes…

At Montreux, each night counts. Over the 16 days of the Festival, the programming is conceived and organized as lineups, with the aim of creating real substance and meaningful links between the three concert halls. The attention we give to detail reaffirms what makes Montreux special: crafting narratives, celebrating the Festival’s living roots, and generating artistic encounters between all the generations of musicians who have conceptualized, are creating, and will continue to fashion the music of tomorrow. This anniversary is the occasion to underscore what drives the Festival: an insatiable desire to “be there”, up close and personal, under the spell of music.

SPECIAL PROJECTS & HOT LINEUPS

It will all start with Charles Lloyd for an Opening Night at the Casino Barrière, a sacred hall that once went up in smoke on the water, to which we return this year to host the first American jazz musician who came to the Festival in 1967. He will perform with his new quartet: Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland. That same night, Monty Alexander, who will also have top-notch accompaniment, will revisit his landmark album recorded in 1977, Montreux Alexander.

At the Stravinski, the inimitable Quincy Jones will direct an event in tribute to his ties of brotherhood with the Festival featuring the Pepe Lienhard Big Band, which will assemble artists from all generations.

How could we not highlight Brazilian dreams with a high-flying multigenerational concert? Montreux’s heart has always bled green and gold, so the stage will welcome in turn Maria Rita, daughter of Elis Regina, João Bosco, Ana Carolina, Vanessa Da Mata, and more! Angélique Kidjo, a faithful friend of Montreux, will be surrounded by Aṣa, the Trio Teriba, Lura, and the peerless voice of the Ivory Coast’s Dobet Gnahoré, for a carte blanche around African Women All-Stars.

The now traditional Montreux Jazz Academy Project will bring back to the Club the talented young guns from the 2015 Academy under the guidance of their mentors Yaron Herman and Ziv Ravitz.

And then, for love of Montreux, Woodkid, although not touring anywhere else, has decided to invite some of his highest-profile friends (mum’s the word on who!) for a unique creation.

Two other monuments of Montreux history will be celebrated in Creations: “Bowie: The Swiss Years” and a nod to the foundational album Swiss Movement by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, revisited by the musical collective Stade.

STRAVINSKI HALL (OF FAME)

The mixing of genres so dear to the Festival couldn’t dream of a better representative for its opening than the out-of-this-world personality of the singer Anohni (aka Antony Hegarty, ex-frontman of Antony and the Johnsons), followed by a breath of fresh Air.

In that concert hall with its unique acoustics we will discover particularly gratifying lineups: two friends known for incisive rock, Patti Smith and PJ Harvey, who is releasing a new album…tomorrow (15 April)! Sigur Rós will share billing with the atomic project of Mogwai, and the enchanting Lana Del Rey will present her new protégé Max Jury. Irresistible! An evening in jazz heaven with the trio of John Scofield, Brad Mehldau, and Mark Guiliana, the drums genius featured on Bowie’s final album, followed by John McLaughlin. Where else but at the Stravinski could you see Buddy Guy and ZZ Top share the stage, to satisfy the hardest core blues fans?

And triumphant returns: Van Morrison, Simply Red, Neil Young’sfirst visit in 15 years, and then Jean-Michel Jarre, who has never before come to Montreux.

And of course some family affairs: Lisa Simone will present her new album with Jamie Cullum in the place where her mother, Nina, was truly imperious. “Uncle Nobs”, as Lisa used to call him, would have been jubilant…

An explosive wink and nod with the double presence of Deep Purple and Zappa the son performing his father’s music. It was in 1971, during his father’s concert, that the Casino caught fire, and the members of Deep Purple, in the audience that day, turned it into the worldwide hit “Smoke on the Water”. The lake, glowing from the neon lights on the promenades, will retain its starring role in the background – a landscape of ineffable beauty – all throughout the festivities.

THE CLUB, ROOTED JAZZ

More close to the Festival’s origins than ever, the Club is what brings together the masters of jazz and the new guard of that musical genre that informs all the others. The presence of the long-fingered magician Randy Weston with his African Rhythms Quintet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Group after luminous group will perform, with such keen musicians as Steps Ahead, Volcan, the Chico Freeman Quintet, the duo of Dave Holland & Kenny Barron, the genius Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin and the amazing artists surrounding him, including Cheikh Lô, Tony Allen and Courtney Pine. And let’s not overlook the reunion of former the bandmates of Miles Davis: Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Darryl Jones and Dennis Chambers.

Biréli Lagrène first came to Montreux in 1981, and at 14 completely subjugated the audience. This worthy scion of Django will be surrounded by top-notch talent: Antonio Faraò, Gary Willis & Lenny White.

The Cuban Latin jazz scene is particularly well represented, notably by the Harold López Nussa Trio, the Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Richard Bona and his band the Mandekan Cubano, Gonzalo Rubalcaba with his project Volcan, and Aruán Ortiz opening for Randy Weston.

The Genevan who conquered New York, Grégoire Maret, will play the night before trumpet star Avishai Cohen. French-language artists are well represented, with Manu Katché, François Lindemann, and the prolific project French Jazz Quarter bringing together some of the top names in French music: the expat Hugh Coltman, with Airelle Besson, Emile Parisien, Vincent Peirani, Thomas Enhco, Thomas Bramerie and Anne Paceo.

You can’t afford to miss the new faces of jazz: New Orleans trumpeter Christian Scott, with hip-hop and rock influences, singer Cécile McLorin Salvant and Manchester’s GoGo Penguin. Blues by the promising Selwyn Birchwood, then Jack Broadbent opening for the legendary bluesman Robben Ford.

Finally, an intimate encounter with the scintillating voice of Keren Ann, with a folk gem of an opening act in the person of Montreal’s unbelievably captivating Basia Bulat.

THE LAB, ON THE LOOKOUT FOR NEW BLOOD

Once again, the lineups here are painstakingly assembled. At the Lab, the programmers serve up the pleasure of discovery—that’s the guiding principle of this ferocious venue. Here you will find names that will get your pulse pounding: M83, Beirut, Grimes, Other Lives, Mac DeMarco, Kurt Vile (ex-member of The War on Drugs) & the Violators, not to mention the cream of thrash metal Slayer, with Meshuggah, who are not touring widely this summer. In 2016 the Lab is strongly marked by hip hop with the US duo of the moment Future, introduced by A$AP Ferg, the sensations of French rap Nekfeu, PNL, the electric Afro-trap of the new fresh prince of the 19th Arrondissement, MHD, and up-and-coming acts like Vald. Another highlight from France: a fantastic lineup with the crystalline voices of Jeanne Added, Lou Doillon, and the rock sensation Feu! Chatterton.

Electronic music is legion, and is to be consumed without limits: such masters as DJ Shadow, Moderat, Laurent Garnier, and Four Tet hand over to Gramatik, Flume, and Floating Points, and encourage the minimalist experimentations of Iceland’s Kiasmos and France’s Petit Biscuit.

The established voices of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats and Glen Hansard will echo others that are still on their way up: Ry X, HÆLOS, Daughter, and the hallucinatory psych-rock of the Allah-Las. And two new voices, one from a faraway land, Australia’s Matt Corby, and one from out of this world, Aurora, demand that you experience them. And, of course, our new soul favorite, presented live at today’s press conference, England’s colossal Rag’n’Bone Man.

MUSIC IS EVERYWHERE…

Creations are really in the spotlight this year, and the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation knows how to situate them in incredibly beautiful places. Along with the tributes to Bowie and to Swiss Movement, a third Creation will showcase Swiss pianist Nik Bärtsch and his project Mobile Continuum at Chillon Castle. And to really get the most out of the idyllic setting of the marvelous Montreux region, music can be experienced pretty much everywhere, with thematic live performances on the water – Montreux Jazz Boats – and all the way to the mountain tops – Montreux Jazz Trains.