Sharon Robinson
|
|
Sharon Robinson from Ten New Songs
|
"...thanks to Sharon Robinson, who sets Cohen's charmingly hoarse whisper to cozy electronic pop, he's never sounded more sensuous. His first new album in nearly a decade, Ten New Songs, has a powerful, hushed intimacy..."
Entertainment Weekly, October 14, 2001, review of Ten New Songs
|
"Cohen's music retains a trademark sensitivity and is given some hope amid the darkness by the gently soulful backing vocals of Sharon Robinson, who also plays most of the instruments and does the computer programming that gives many tracks a haunting, ambient feel."
The Boston Globe, October 12, 2001, review of Ten New Songs
|
Sharon, Leanne and Leonard
Photo © Tracy Wasserman from Ten New Songs |
|
|
Sharon Robinson's collaboration with Leonard dates back to the 1979 Field Commander Cohen tour, when she sang backing vocals with Jennifer Warnes. (Check out Hazel Field's amazing photos of the tour on the Field Commander Cohen site, which also included current Cohen tour musical director Roscoe Beck.)
Here's a video from a 1979 München Deutschland (ZDF-TV Studio) TV performance of "Memories" by Leonard and his band, including rousing backing vocals by Sharon Robinson and Jennifer Warnes.
About this tour, Sharon has said:
"I consider being hired for the Field Commander tour to be one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. Mostly because of the music. The whole experience was magical. Being on stage in beautiful halls, performing »The Guests« and »Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye« with brilliant musicians and a rapt audience. Leonard’s words. Jenny’s unbelievable voice. And the icing on the cake for me: after intermission, listening from offstage as Leonard went out by himself to do »The Stranger Song«. As you can tell, the experience resonates with me still. It was great being part of that tour." ("Sharon Robinson: Exchanging the letters with Leonard Cohen," interview with Sharon Robinson, www.leonardcohencroatia.com)
"Funky Chichen" by Greg Gold. Sharon and Leonard at work.
© Greg Gold from Ten New Songs |
Sharon's relationship with Leonard didn't end there and in fact, over the next 30 years would grow even more productive. Together Sharon and Leonard wrote "Everybody Know," "Waiting For A Miracle," and "Summertime," which was originally recorded by Diana Ross on her Red Hot Rhythm and Blues album.
Then in the summer of 2001, Sharon produced Leonard's album Ten New Songs and co-wrote all the songs with Leonard. Sharon explained the nature of their collaboration for this album:
|
"On Ten New Songs, Leonard did write all of the lyrics, as he has on all of the songs we’ve written together. If I had any influence on the lyrics, it was only in the way in which one hears things differently when a particular person is in the room. For me, it was almost as if the words were a kind of teaching and I, or both Leonard and I, were the students. During the time we were working, the words seemed to inform and illuminate everyday life. There was an experiential quality to it, more to it than just writing songs. But the domain of the words was definitely Leonard’s. In terms of the music, I did start with a poem, find the structure, write the melody, and do the arrangements, but the way I approached it was to give Leonard concepts that he could either accept or pass on. If he didn’t think it worked, I’d go and try something else, or at times I’d present a few ideas at once. So in actuality, Leonard was really completely involved creatively in the music. I respect Leonard’s musicianship and his deep connection to his own work, so I never had the appetite to insist on anything he didn’t want. My goal here as producer was to get what he wanted in the can. As I got more used to the process for that particular record, Leonard’s voice, the overall story that was being told by the lyrics, and the tone the album was taking on, it became easier to know what was going to work and what wasn’t." ("Sharon Robinson: Exchanging the letters with Leonard Cohen," interview with Sharon Robinson, www.leonardcohencroatia.com)
Ten New Songs was followed up by Leonard with Dear Heather. Again, Sharon was a significant contributor. She co-wrote, produced and arranged two songs on the album, including "The Letters" and "There For You," as well as producing and arranging "Go No More A-Roving." Of course, on all these songs Sharon contributed her lovely voice as well.
 Sharon continues her devotion to music with the upcoming June 2008 release of her first solo album, Invisible Tattoo. Check out some of the music from the album. And note that the album's cover art is by Leonard.
We can all look forward to seeing our old friend Sharon on tour with Leonard, lending her heavenly voice, her incredible musical talent and her life-long support for Leonard.
Check out these sites on Sharon Robinson:
Sharon Robinson: Invisible Tatoo
Sharon Robinson
Sharon's Myspace
A Thousand Kisses Deep: Sharon Robinson / Exchanging the Letters with Leonard Cohen
Return to Speaking Cohen Home
Backgrounds provided by Eos Development
|