Sincerely, L. Cohen

LIVE ALBUM FROM HISTORIC 2017 MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG CONCERT TRIBUTE TO LEONARD COHEN. DIGITAL EDITION TO BE RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 21 (LEONARD COHEN’S BIRTHDAY) + 2-LP LIMITED EDITION VINYL ON NOVEMBER 24.

SINCERELY, L. COHEN: A LIVE CELEBRATION OF LEONARD COHEN will be released on September 21 via Royal Potato Family. Legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen died on November 7, 2016, one day before the 2016 Presidential Election, but the world didn’t find out for several days after. On January 24, 2017 (shortly after the inauguration of Donald Trump and the succeeding Women’s March), New York City finally paid tribute to the Poet Prince of Montréal with a concert featuring dozens of singers, songwriters and musicians, including Richard Thompson, Josh Ritter, Will Sheff (Okkervil River), Amy Helm, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Elvis Perkins, Holly Miranda, Joan As Police Woman, Delicate Steve, and many more. It was an evening the Village Voice called “a loving, thoughtful tribute to Cohen’s life in music and poetry.” The live album features highlight performances from this nearly three-hour marathon concert, which the Voice also hailed as a “carefully constructed, expertly structured production.”

The concert and subsequent album was produced by Cohen fans Jesse Lauter (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Hannah Gold (City Winery Presents), and Josh Kaufman. Kaufman (Guitar-Bob Weir) led the house band, which featured first-rate New York-based musicians including Ray Rizzo (Drums-Yo Yo Ma), Walt Martin (Keys-The Walkmen), Annie Nero (Bass-Craig Finn), Stuart Bogie (Brass & Woodwinds-Arcade Fire), Nick Kinsey (Percussions-Kevin Morby), and Dave Harrington (Guitar-Darkside), punctuated by a backing vocal trio that Cohen would have been proud of—Leslie Mendelson Jocie Adams and Cassandra Jenkins.

In the liner notes to this collection, music critic Justin Joffe writes, “Sincerely, L. Cohen: A Live Celebration of Leonard Cohen could have been a solemn affair. But all performers took the celebration part to heart, infusing Cohen’s most somber truths with equal parts reverence and reverie. The evening found a mix of New York icons, esteemed singer-songwriters, cult performers, and up-and-comers for a night of Cohen standards, stories and deep cuts.” Joffe continues, “Sentimental and scholarly, full of tearful singalongs and heartfelt remembrance, it was an evening Cohen would have appreciated.”

The album will be made available on all digital-streaming platforms on Thursday September 21st, what would have been Leonard Cohen’s 83rd birthday. A limited-edition double vinyl run of 500 units is available for preorder and will hit stores in time for the holidays. All proceeds from album sales will go to the Preemptive Love Coalition, a non-profit organization that aids children and families affected by terrorism and other crises in the Middle East across the globe. For more information, visit: www.preemptivelove.org.

Track Listing:
1. Hallelujah – Delicate Steve
2. Sisters of Mercy – Leslie Mendelson
3. Diamonds In The Mine – Osei Essed
4. I’m Your Man – Holly Miranda, Joan As Police Woman & Invisible Familiars
5. Chelsea Hotel #2 – Josh Ritter
6. Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye – Amy Helm
7. Is This What You Wanted – Elvis Perkins
8. Bird On The Wire – Richard Thompson
9. Story Of Isaac – Richard Thompson
10. Beautiful Losers – Lenny Kaye
11. Memories – Ian O’Neil
12. In My Secret Life – Cassandra Jenkins
13. Ballad of The Absent Mare – Teddy Thompson
14. Suzanne – Alana Amram
15. Famous Blue Raincoat – Lee Ranaldo
16. So Long, Marianne – Will Sheff & Friends

Cover Art