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Hi! Perla Batalla not only will be at "acordes con Cohen", the spanish tribute to Cohen, also she will be at "Barnasants", in Barcelona, the most important songwriter´s festival in Spain.

Perla continues to expand and grow . My understanding is that Leonard was a strong factor in his encouragement that she pursue the music of her roots in her writing and performance, as she has so much to offer both.

~ Lizzy

Perla Batalla, her presence is unforgettable in "Acordes con Cohen" of this last summer. Do you remember, Antonio?



Of course Cohen had reason, he's not stupid and Perla is a beautiful woman:

Barcelona's concert 1988 (audience sound)

Hi FYS ~

Well, being a beautiful woman doesn't necessarily equate with the talent and ability to bring a fresh approach and inherent validity to a particular genre.

The encouragement doesn't have to do with being stupid or not stupid; but rather, perhaps, having a role of significance in a person's life, to the extent that your input and encouragement can be monumental factors in helping them get beyond their own uncertainties as to whether to 'officially' pursue music in a particular direction. Trusting and having faith in another person's judgment, expertise, and intuitive, good decisions can make all the difference in your 'stepping out' to actively move in that new direction.

I was glad to hear of Leonard's influence with Perla. Everything I've seen or heard her say about him seems to corroborate it, as well. What a mentor.


~ Lizzy

Yes Lizzy, you are right, but also it is true that there are beings that seem to have all the graces.

Just I tried to remember this anecdote, the Leonard's compliment to Pearl, his temporary translator, in the concert of Barcelona of 1988. I believe that it is an entertaining anecdote and I hope nice without any intention of "genre". Now we speak about beauty in its more wide form .

Cohen joked: he was "stupid" for not knowing languages, but not so stupid having a beautiful woman to speak for him.




We know Perla Batalla for her relation with Leonard Cohen, her participation in the tours of 1988 and 1993, and her wonderful covers. In my opinion, in addition to her beautiful voice, Pearl has one special sensibility and intelligence of the interpretation of the Cohen's world. I am a modest collector of covers of Cohen and few ones seem to me so precious as those of Perla. (Though I do not understand the introduction of "O Susana" on Bird on the wire - The songs of Leonard Cohen", USA 2005, but Eve's voice "The Angel of the Universe" is the most beautiful.")

But Perla Batalla has her own work:

http://www.perla.com (You can order "Bird on the wire - The songs of Leonard Cohen" here.)

Anyway, I will be there, in Barna Sants, the Perla Batalla's concert as an authentic fan. Thank you Antonio for the information.

Great anecdote with Leonard regarding Perla .


~ Lizzy

The Perla Batalla´s concert in Barcelona is 20th january at Luz de Gas, one of the best places for concerts.

Perla Batalla, Luz de Gas, BarnaSants Festival, Barcelona, 20 Jan 2007.



1 Cine de llantos (Batalla/Bateau/Evans)
2 Moliendo café (J. Manzo)
3 La llorona
4 Cuando sale la Luna (José Alberto Jiménez)
5 Suzanne (Leonard Cohen)
6 If it be your will (Leonard Cohen)
7 Famous blue raincoat (Leonard Cohen)
8 Las Mañanitas
9 Ballad of the Absent Mare (Leonard Cohen) in Spanish with Javier Colis
10 El Carnicero (The Butcher - Leonard Cohen) Javier Colis
11 Baila Conmigo (Dance me to the End of Love - Leonard Cohen)
encore:
12 Cucurrucucu Paloma (Tomás Méndez)
13 Bird On the Wire (Leonard Cohen)
14 Gracias a la vida (Violeta Parra)

Musician:
Javier Mas - guitar, bandurria.
Álvaro Gandúl - keyboards.
Gilberto González - guitar, percussion.
Antonio Joau ¿? - drums
J. Bekel ¿? - bass

It was a wonderful concert in an intimate environment with a fascinated public.

Perla's voice is wonderful in her multiple timbres with perfect control and security, she has and extraordinary level of singing.

Perla Batalla demonstrates to know with depth the Cohen's music, in my opinion her covers are faithful to the essence of the songs, or as I understand them.



A part of the concert was of Latin music. It is not the original music of our lands. Anyway our parents already were listening it and now in our festivals, in the villages and popular neighborhoods (as Gracia), songs as "Reloj" or "Moliendo Café" cannot be absent, and young people, grandparents and children dance with this intimate music that already forms a part of ours. Perla is in her environment with the music of her roots. She said that Cucurrucucu was the favourite song of her daddy, this version so warm, slow and deep is one of the most beautiful things to that I have listened.

The group sounded magnificently, Gilberto Gonzalez is a close collaborator of Perla and directed the band, I regret not knowing the exact names of two excellent musicians. Javier Mas and Álvaro Cansado were the brilliant guests, they already were in "Acords amb LC".

Javier Colis was as Sant Feliu, better as Sant Cugat, more free, brilliant and funny.

But the concert was very short. Important songs were absent as "Seems so long ago, Nancy" (the best in opinion of Chema). Also we had a moment of fear at the end of "Ballad of the Absent Mare", when Pearl, barefoot the whole concert, danced with Javier Colis who was showing a enormous boots, disproportionate for him , thankfully there was no accident.



Now Perla returns to LA for new concerts. It seems that she has fallen in love with Barcelona too, we hope that she returns with us for more time and let's be able enjoy her warmth and great music. She leaves faithful fans here. She knows.

We had the pleasure of knowing John Kelly. John is other "more than fan", he wins me for much, he has been lived several concerts and in the Hydra 2002 event. Really a pleasure to speak with that people, always-beautiful people. I think, "One of us cannot be wrong".

Hi! Perla is a nice woman with a warn voice. Her covers are full to vitality. This is her personal "touch". Her concert was good, but short. It was an another opportunity for a nice meeting of Cohen's fans of Barcelona.

See you

CHEMA

Thanks again for the reports and pictures.

Perla is indeed a treasure -- as is companionship of Cohen fans.

Yes, for me she is an angel.

She has her own work, four discs. (I know two and they are wonderful.) But everything began with a Julie Christensen's call, which took her, from the shop of discs of her parents, to two world tours with Leonard Cohen.

Now Perla Batalla presents The Gospel According to Leonard Cohen .

With Julie, again. Julie is another angel, I cannot forget that wonderful moment at the end of "Anthem" that we could see in "I'm your man". Julie is my Joan of Arc, when she sings with Leonard not with Lou Reed.