Hi boopsie,
It sounds like an all-star line-up for this Leonard Cohen tribute. I
wish I could've been there. According to the program, the artist is
probably Perla Batalla, however, Ms. Batalla is a Latina. Please look
over the following information and photos and see if I have the
correct "Anthem" performer. Ms. Batalla and Julie Christensen were
backup singers for Cohen's tours in 1988 and 1993.
"Perla Batalla, a Los Angelina of Mexican descent, is possessed of a
vocal gift so deeply expressive as to belong in a class alongside some
of the best singers of our age: Hungary's Marta Sebestyen, Tibet's
Yungchen Lhamo, and Portugal's Teresa Salguiero (Madredeus). To this
list also add some sisters in contralto soul: the American South's
folk-blues mistress, Karen Dalton, and Canadian powerhouse k.d. lang,
for whom Batalla sang backup. Mestiza, Batalla's stunning second
release, comes after several years singing with Leonard Cohen and
various other artists. Batalla and guitarist David Batteau penned the
record's 13 songs. Alongside Batalla's percussionist husband, Claud
Mann, Batteau's fluid lines form the core accompaniment for the
bilingual singer's smoky contralto."
http://www.perla.com/press.html
"The Los Angeles-born singer-songwriter Perla Batalla was immersed in
the musical world from birth; her father, a Mexican singer and disc
jockey, her mother, the proprietor of a bustling Spanish language
music store. She started her solo career in 1993, after working with
artists ranging from Leonard Cohen and k.d. lang to the Gipsy Kings
and Jennifer Warnes. These diverse influences are evident in the music
she writes, arranges and performs today. Her repertoire cuts across
genre and language, combining traditional Mexican folk melodies,
powerful ballads and pulsing rhythms, the result being stylish,
sophisticated and most uniquely Perla."
http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/perla.html
Photos of Perla Batalla:
http://www.perla.com/photos.html
"Perla did an appearance on a radio station (KORW if I can read my
handwriting) last Dec. 30. I haven't heard it but was told that she
did a
beautiful version of "Anthem." One of these days I'll try to track
down a tape
of it."
http://alaska.magpage.com/~gm/LC-ng-90-95/1268.htm
Celebrate Brooklyn
http://www.brooklynx.org/celebrate
Lyrics to "Anthem"
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leonardcohen/anthem.html
Artist Review
http://www.hrmusic.com/artists/pbart.html
I trust Ms. Bartalla is the artist you're seeking. I'll be checking
her out myself.
Best regards,
V |
