| Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 31 January 2012 | |||
| Recorded | The Canterbury Music Company, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 57:56 | |||
| Label | Marquis Classics | |||
| Producer | Patricia O'Callaghan, Jeremy Darby | |||
| Patricia O'Callaghan chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
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.[2]
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".[3] 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."[4]
Named after the Toronto tavern that Cohen frequented in the 1960s,[5] 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.[6][7] One song ("The Smokey Life") is a duet with Steven Page, a founder member of Barenaked Ladies.[8] Matador was produced with financial assistance from the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canada Music Fund.[9]
Among many other venues, O'Callaghan performed songs from this album at MusicFest Vancouver,[10] at Global Cabaret Festival[11] and at the Aylmer Performing Arts concert series.[12]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Marquis Music - Detail1 - MAR417 - Matador: Songs of Leonard Cohen - Patricia O'Callaghan - Marquis Music". www.marquisclassics.com. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ Christopher Loudon, "Patricia O'Callaghan Matador" http://jazztimes.com/articles/29633-matador-patricia-o-callaghan. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Toronto’s Club Matador, Leonard Cohen, Closing Time, Rebecca De Mornay, & More" Archived 17 March 2014 at archive.today. Heck of a Guy – The Other Leonard Cohen Site
- ^ MatadoR – The Songs of Leonard Cohen – Patricia O’Callaghan
- ^ Anna Borowiecki "From Patricia with love". St. Albert Gazette.
- ^ Patricia O'Callaghan a consummate singer of songs
- ^ Digital Booklet Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen.
- ^ Janet Smith "At MusicFest Vancouver, Patricia O’Callaghan goes beyond the cabaret". Straight, 8 August 2012.
- ^ Classic albums revive at Global Cabaret | National Post
- ^ "Patricia O'Callaghan Captivating Start to Aylmer Performing Arts Season" Archived 17 March 2014 at archive.today. Relish Elgin.