In Manchester Eija and I had chance to speak shortly with the band members. - The band had used several months to rehearse the songs in Los Angeles, and everything was ready before the tour started in the Maritimes. During the tour the setlist will be changing according to the audience reactions; that's why some older classics were introduced in Manchester (Sisters and Raincoat).
I was happy to see how enthusiastic and skilful these musicians are, and how excited they are about this tour with Leonard - and how much they admire and love Leonard. "This is not work - it's a miracle", Rafael Gayol said. Javier Mas told us that he has been playing guitar since he was seven years old, and he does not need to think how to play - it comes directly from the heart. He is playing bandurria, laud and 12 string guitar (all those have 12 metal strings) and archilaud (12 nylon strings, it sounds like the oud). We told Javier that we had enjoyed his interpretations already in Sant Cugant near Barcelona, at the tribute concert last year. Bob Metzger was at the New York Event in 2004, so we knew him from before, and we were happy to see Leanne Unger - she said she is watching monitors during this tour. Roscoe Beck pulls the strings not only of his bass but of the whole band as the musical director. We congratulated him and everybody on these amazing concerts. Dino Soldo is a master of many instruments and he really puts his heart and soul to his playing. And finally we met Sharon Robinson, face-to-face, after emailing with her for so many years, ever since she and Leonard recorded Ten New Songs. Her new album was released before the tour. I told Neil Larsen that I have tried to get a good picture of him for The Files, but he is always behind his very big & high hammond, and the ladies are standing in front of the organ, so it's very difficult. Now I managed to get some pix (but if anyone here has a better one, please send!). Charley and Hattie gave us the URL to their new website (
http://www.thewebbsistersmusic.com). They have recently moved to another record company, and for the time being there are two websites online. Someone told that the sisters had rehearsed "If it be your will" on their own; everybody loved it and it was added to the set!
By the way, it also became clear that the band members are reading forum and the Cohen sites - "a great way to get instant feedback", several of them said!
) who was originally scheduled to be with the band?
