Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen is the fifth solo album recorded by the Canadian singer Patricia O'Callaghan and was released by the Marquis Classics label in January 2012.
Matador won almost immediate critical acclaim. Christopher Loudon described it in a review for JazzTimes magazine as a "superb collection of Leonard Cohen gems" recorded by "arguably Canada's most gifted jazz-cabaret hybrid" on an album featuring "what is quite possibly the most exquisite 'Hallelujah' ever recorded".Christopher Loudon, "Patricia O'Callaghan Matador" http://jazztimes.com/articles/29633-matador-patricia-o-callaghan. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jon O’Brien wrote in a review for the AllMusic website: "A graceful and respectful homage to a true musical icon, Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen cements O’Callaghan’s position as one of his most accomplished interpreters."Jon O’Brien, "Patricia O’Callaghan – Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen: review" http://www.allmusic.com/album/matador-the-songs-of-leonard-cohen-mw0002290285. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
Named after the Toronto tavern that Cohen frequented in the 1960s,"Toronto’s Club Matador, Leonard Cohen, Closing Time, Rebecca De Mornay, & More" . Heck of a Guy – The Other Leonard Cohen Site Matador is unusual for a pop music album since, although electric guitar can be heard on one song ("Everybody Knows"), none of the tracks features electric bass guitar. The violinist, cellist and pianist on the album, Patipatanakoon, Borys and Parker, are better-known as the Canadian chamber music ensemble the Gryphon Trio.MatadoR – The Songs of Leonard Cohen – Patricia O’CallaghanAnna Borowiecki "From Patricia with love". St. Albert Gazette. One song ("The Smokey Life") is a duet with Steven Page, a founder member of Barenaked Ladies.Patricia O'Callaghan a consummate singer of songs Matador was produced with financial assistance from the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canada Music Fund.Digital Booklet Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen.
Among many other venues, O'Callaghan performed songs from this album at MusicFest Vancouver,Janet Smith "At MusicFest Vancouver, Patricia O’Callaghan goes beyond the cabaret". Straight, 8 August 2012. at Global Cabaret FestivalClassic albums revive at Global Cabaret | National Post and at the Aylmer Performing Arts concert series."Patricia O'Callaghan Captivating Start to Aylmer Performing Arts Season" . Relish Elgin.
Track listing
All songs written by Leonard Cohen except where noted.
"The Gypsy's Wife" (4:16) "The Window" (5:24) "Dance Me to the End of Love" (4:13) "Who by Fire" (3:12) "Alexandra Leaving" (5:00) (Cohen, Sharon Robinson) "Everybody Knows" (3:59) (Cohen, Robinson) "Suzanne" (4:25) "If It Be Your Will" (3:38) "Anthem" (4:27) "The Smokey Life" (6:11) "Joan of Arc" (5:51) "I'm Your Man" (3:09) "Hallelujah" (3:58)
Personnel
Musicians
Patricia O'Callaghan – vocals John Gzowski – guitars, ukulele David Restivo – piano, organ Andrew Downing – bass Mark Mariash – drums, percussion Annalee Patipatanakoon – violin Roman Borys – cello Jamie Parker – piano Max Christie – clarinet Ernie Tollar – sax and flutes Mike Ross – guest singer Sienna Dahlen – guest singer Maryem Tollar – guest singer Steven Page – guest singer
Recording personnel
Patricia O'Callaghan – co-producer Jeremy Darby – co-producer/engineer Andrew Downing – associate producer/arranger Andrew Heppner – assistant engineer Sam Ibbett – assistant engineer Jeff Wolpert – mixing and mastering
References
External links
Patricia O'Callaghan official website Cabaret singer fuses pop and classical. Inside Toronto