Would you like to listen the last concert in Kamenz (Germany, Sachsen) from 2018/03/17?

Here ist the link to the playlist on YouTube:

Playlist concert in Kamenz (Germany, Sachsen) the 2018/03/17

Review to "So Long Leonard"

DIRK ENDE

So Long Leonard

(Seelenheimat)

Leonard Cohen passed away on November 7, 2016, but his art lives on and still has impact on people´s hearts and minds. How much it does is actually proven by the tribute album „So Long Leonard.“ the singer and guitarist Dirk Ende took 15 songs that cover a time span of 34 years. Sure, a collection like this would not be complete without the timeless classic „Hallelujah,“ the hit blueprint „First We Take Manhattan“ and the evergreen „Suzanne,“ but it is the not covered-to-death tunes that excite you. Especially on „Lover Lover Lover“ Dirk Ende gets incredibly close to the original voice. Goosebumps guaranteed!

Ende even excels himself on „Chelsea Hotel,“ „A Thousand Kisses Deep“ and „Lover Lover Lover.“ Of course the 61-year-old performer does not have Cohen´s unique timbre, but a stunning style of his own. Especially A Thousand Kisses Deep,“ the youngest cut on this disc with an original release in 2001, is a little masterpiece in this version – a true gem!

Closest to this come „It Seems So Long Ago, Nancy“ and „Stories Of The Street.“ Especially these songs have their individual vibe which is beyond the original.

Considering that an album with such a strong focus on acoustic guitar and vocals can get very tedious very quickly, it fascinates even more how exciting „So Long Leonard“ has been shaped. Dirk Ende and his combatants bow to the immortal artist Leonard Cohen, but they do not freeze in awe. Instead, they interpret his work with confidence. It´s even more than that: They try to find  new ways. These again have been perfectly prepared by Kurt Fritsche: The sound is superb! 

©Michael Schuebeler/EMPIRE Magazine

Dirk Ende - Homepage

Dirk Ende - So Long Leonard

Buy So Long Leonard

This is my first time to meet music of Leonard Cohen:

Actually we wanted to release the album under the name "Thank You Mr. Cohen", but then we decided on "So Long Leonard", following one of his most famous songs "So long Marianne", which he dedicated to his muse Marianne.

I already came into contact with Leonard Cohen and his music in my youth. It was in 1977 when we were sitting in a youth hostel in Edinburgh (Scotland) with other musicians playing and singing on the lawn in front of it. At that time I could only play a little guitar and sing. But there were also really good people who played guitar like gods. Back then I admired them very much. However, there was one who wasn't able to play along many titles, listening with an open mouth, like me. At some point, he (I'll call him Joe, because I've unfortunately forgotten his name) grabbed the guitar and said: "Ok, I can do one song, I'll play it for you now!" He started playing and sang Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne". He played so well and soulful that all the girl's hearts just flew to him. After that only this song was played for the rest of the evening - over and over again. I never forgot it anymore!

It's been more than 40 years now and Leonard Cohen's music has lost none of its magic to me. Now I stand here before you and have realized the dream to publish an album with songs by Leonard Cohen. With his most famous songs like “Suzanne”, “Famous blue Raincoat”, “Bird on a Wire” and “So long Marianne” from the beginning of his career. From the 1980s “First we take Manhattan” and “Hallelujah”. Of course, there are still a few more songs on the album, emotional played and sung with all my heart and soul. And I hope you all are touched like we were by Joe back then at the youth hostel. Thank you dear Mr. Cohen!