Zachary Oberzan sings Cohen in New York

Post by **jarkko** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:47 am

From Zachary Oberzan:

I have great news. I'm going to be performing a full evening of Leonard songs at Makor, a very prestigious music club on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. I'm calling the show "The Man Who Wrote Suzanne: Songs of Leonard Cohen." Joining me onstage will be some very top notch talent, including violinist Deni Bonet, who performs and records with Cyndi Lauper, REM, Richard Thompson and Sara McLachlan. So I guess I am in good company, to say the least.

Here is a link to Makor's site, with directions/time/tickets, etc.
http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.as ... %2DMM5PJ46

Also....rumor has it that a very special guest will be in attendance...
Date & Time: Wed, Jan 3, 2007, 8:00pm
Location: Steinhardt Building, 35 West 67th Street Directions
Code: T-MM5PJ46-01
Price: $12.00

ZOberzan · Post by **ZOberzan** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:52 am

Hello , fellow Cohenites!

I wish I could see you all at this tribute concert on January 3rd. I know it's not geographically possible, but I will use my keen powers of imagination to hallucinate that you are all there. Unfortunately, my violinist had to cancel, but the good news is, I will be joined by a brilliant singer straight from Montreal, Isabelle Marceau. I am planning a wonderful evening to celebrate the work of our most important spy.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me! onlylivingboy@zacharyoberzan.com

Looking forward to seeing you there, in person or in spirit!

Yours,
Zachary

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:49 am

I love the name of your show, Zachary

. It makes me laugh, remembering the video when Leonard forgot the words

.

~ Lizzy

ZOberzan · Post by **ZOberzan** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:53 am

oh, is there a video of that? I just have the audio recording that Margaret Humphries so kindly sent me. I am endlessly amazed at his improv skills.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:02 pm

Well, now you make me question myself, Zack

. It's possible that when I heard it, I visualized it... but, I don't think so. I'd swear I actually saw it and can picture it in my mind right now.

Let's consult the authorities... Tom?

I'll be with you in spirit on the night of your performance and wishing you the very best. I love your humility.

~ Lizzy

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:44 am

Zachary,

I'm glad the recordings proved useful, even inspirational in the naming of your forthcoming concert. I'll be thinking of you on 3rd January and hope all goes well. It should be a sell-out show.

I don't know if that improvisation was captured on video, unless it was part of the Tony Palmer film documentary, Bird on a Wire from around 1972. I have a poor quality video of that but it's been a while since I watched it.

Margaret

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:39 am

I believe it was from the Bird on a Wire documentary, Margaret. Thanks. I can picture Leonard's face... sort of laughing at [smiling to] himself and all.

[I need to get my VCR hooked back up. Undid it to try to figure out why the Auschwitz DVDs won't work in mine, but will in someone else's. Got it unhooked and taken somewhere, but my computer guru guy at work moved before he was able to get to it... it all happened so fast. As soon as I do, I'll check it out.]

~ Lizzy

ZOberzan · Post by **ZOberzan** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:42 pm

Margaret-

The recordings you sent proved very useful and inspirational. I like to blend some of these older renditions of songs into the now famous versions.

And Elizabeth, as for my humility...I have an excellent role model.

Zachary

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:03 pm

And Elizabeth, as for my humility...I have an excellent role model.

Exactly, Zachary

.

~ Elizabeth

dick · Post by **dick** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:45 pm

Zack Oberzan put on a skillful and entertaining evening of Cohen songs at Makor (branch of 92nd St Y) in New York City on Wednesday, January 3. A lovely partner, Montreal chanteuse Isabelle Marceau, ably accompanied each song.

The show was divided into two sets with a brief intermission. Zack’s interpretations felt very sincere and succeeded partially because they did not attempt to imitate Cohen. Particularly entertaining to me were “The Future,” “Closing Time” and “Please Don’t Pass Me By.” Isabelle delivered a stunning “Undertow” solo. Zack’s creative take on “Chelsea Hotel” – combining #1, #2 and “There is No Reason Why” as he did in Berlin was also very effective. Even better, there was not one stinker in the entire show.

Zack gave us one of his songs from his newest album, “Athlete’s of Romance.” “Amelia Earhart” alone is worth the price of the cd. A big cd bonus is Zack’s Mom’s photo on the inside pages.

Familiar Cohen fans in attendance were Esther Cohen, Evelyn Stein, Thelma Blitz, Ken and Suzanne Kurzweil and Linda and I. The show was very well attended with the spacious room over 80% full. Thelma videotaped both sets and hopefully will share a link so all will be able to enjoy Zack’s great performance.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:52 pm

Dick ~

This is absolutely, perfectly lovely

~ and I am SO glad that Thelma was there with her camera and Esther was there ~ period! I'm glad that our Cohen people who live in the vicinity took the interest and time to support Zack. I know it meant a LOT to Zack to open his eyes and see ALL of you there

.

Congratulations, Zack

~ I don't need to see the video to know what an excellent job you did, but I still sure look forward to seeing it, to see both you and Isabelle!

Thanks for your report, Dick. Yes, yes ~ on Amelia Earhart. Such a thoughtful tribute, isn't it. You're exactly right, too, that Zack doesn't even try to 'be Leonard' in his singing and, in that, imparts his own charm that comes through crystal clear.

Thanks, Thelma

.

Love,
Lizzy

ZOberzan · Post by **ZOberzan** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:13 am

Thank you all so much for coming to the show, those who were there in person and those who were there in spirit. I especially want to thank Dick and Linda Straub, whose friendship and support made this show possible in the first place, and for bringing our special guest, Esther. And I also want to thank Thelma for recording the concert. Makor has a policy of not allowing video taping, but Thelma has never struck me as one who paid much attention to arbitrary policies.

All my friends here on the leonardcohenfiles made the evening a very special and meaningful one, and I am grateful. I feel that the songs honored us as much as we honored them.

Yours,
Zachary

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:01 am

Hi Zack and Everybody,
I really enjoyed the show last night and the video came out well even in low light. I have been trying to upload it to Google Video, It failed once so I am trying again. If it fails again, I will break it up into 10 minute segment for You Tube. All who were disappointed with the pop- music show- biz treatment of Leonard Cohen by the Hal Wilner people will enjoy the purity, dignity, sincerity and wit of Zachary and the graceful Isabelle. I'll keep working on the internet upload.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:24 am

" . . . the purity, dignity, sincerity and wit of Zachary . . . "

Exactly, Thelma... well said.

Still looking forward to what I know will be "the graceful Isabelle."

I know how much it means to you, Zack, for Esther to have been there.

Thanks for ignoring those "arbitrary policies"

, Thelma. You nailed her with that one, Zack

.

Thanks, Dick and Linda, for making it all possible

.

There in spirit,
Lizzy

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:45 am

Makor helped me plug in my camcorder--no problem there.
Here's part two of the video. They are still working on part 1:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 1004&hl=en

Zachary Oberzan sings Cohen in New York

Zachary Oberzan sings Cohen in New York

Hope everyone in a 200 mile radius can make it!

Thanks for the trouble you took