Interview with Javier Mas ('El País', Spain)

[Juan Luis Corcobado]

Interview with Javier Mas. El País (Spain). Translated with Google.

http://translate.google.es/translate?js ... l=es&tl=en


I Take this opportunity to thank all of the over 20,000 hits on my videos of Leonard's last concert in Madrid:

http://www.corcobado.net/lcmadrid/videos.html

Best wishes.


Juan Luis.

[sturgess66]

Thanks Jean Luis! And I am going to print out the imperfectly Google-translated article here. Nice picture.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/ ... ucul_4/Tes

Leonard Cohen, in good shape ... creative
The singer, who postponed several concerts with back problems, has new issues, says Javier Mas, one of his musicians



Javier Mas says that despite his back injury, Leonard Cohen is "in good shape," which last year tested "four or five new songs" and ruled further delays on the tour. It is the opinion of a either: he is the man to which Cohen knelt on each of his last concert tour last year. Javier Mas, 57, was born in Zaragoza, the city where he learned to play mandolin and archilaud. Its good to do with these instruments, in addition to the guitar, enabled him to play with one of his idols of youth, veteran Canadian poet and songwriter, now 75 years. His fans have to wait until Sept. 15 to see him back on stage, six months longer than expected. The tour, which includes Spain, has performances scheduled through October 7.

The subjects were tested during the tour. At the recent past the Grammy ceremony, one of his colleagues, Sharon Robinson, said Cohen already had an item entitled Different Sides. But expanding the list to four or five. "He played piano on one song. I use the mandolin, the archilaud, guitar ..." lists. Javier Mas's contribution to the music of Cohen has made Mediterranean airs of Canadian compositions, as in the live version of The Gypsy Wife.

"The tour is delayed until September. Leonard needs four or five months of rehabilitation," confirms the musician, from his flat in Barcelona. "This is a back injury, a pinched. It happened while exercising. It's a muscle injury, takes time," he says. Will there be further delays if the rehabilitation needs more time? But do not think likely. "It has given rise to not look bad. He's a strong guy is phenomenal, is very careful. Otherwise, the years and the road can not stand," reflects the Zaragoza that leverages your holiday to record collaborations and above all to rest. "Then comes the hard" predicts, laughing.

I remember posting it here recently - somewhere - but there is a link for a very nice El Pais video about Javier Mas.
http://www.elpais.com/videos/cultura/pa ... cul_4/Ves/

[sturgess66]

I am not sure if we ever saw this article from El Pais from January 11, 2010?

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/ ... ucul_4/Tes

On the Edge of the 'Father' Cohen
Javier Mas has transformed the music of his mandolin Canadian poet protagonist of one of the most successful tours of 2009

RICARDO GRANDE / Javier Heras - Madrid - 11/01/2010


Javier Mas took the phone and knew immediately that this was no joke. Not that this multifaceted musician listening to his records take a lifetime. Not even because he had already spoken once with veteran songwriter. But he picked up and knew it was Leonard Cohen because no one with that voice. That night, in late 2007, Cohen said that in the end yes, they were going on tour. It was almost one o'clock in the morning. A Javier (Zaragoza, 57 years), the man before whom the legend alive, and in good shape, "he kneels at every concert, he stuck a moment of conversation:" He said he needed to help him return to playing guitar, when in fact it was no need. " Modesty, like Javier, who also asked a favor: "If it works, if there is no chemistry, do not worry. I'll happy to have participated. After 17 months of touring and hundreds of performances (nine of them in Spain last summer), the feeling with the troubadour of serious and seductive voice obvious.

It is a spontaneous man: get in the door of his apartment in Barcelona in shoes and beret. Alterna cigars with chopsticks, and sometimes takes on a slanted glasses nose "Jewish enough", he ties him physically with Leonard Cohen. Its proximity is not at odds with the air that give the dandy mustache and sideburns perfectly manicured. Nor is misplaced their contribution to the music of Canadian Poet: airs Mediterranean archilaud mandolin and to clothe some songs that are part of the life of Javier. "I knew all: So Long Marianne, Sisters of mercy ... I learned English with their records.

Acting with his idol represents a return to its origins when bars versions of their themes and Dylan with acoustic and harmonica. "I am self-taught. Over the years, whenever I was playing more to my style." The goal was always clear. "It has taken me to say no to certain projects, you never know if you will miss the money ... but I did. The goal was to live music," ditch. He began playing the mandolin at age nine. A few months later, he was already giving concerts. Between dream Cohen unthinkable to call for his name and the gift of his grandfather ( "a mandolin, the guitar was too big") has gone for blues, rock and Spanish folklore. Spain has toured with the singer Maria del Mar Bonet. Has dotted with Raimundo Amador until their fingers ached. Everything has been incorporated naturally into his music, and a smile betrays that he is still enjoying the game, with the mixture, with improvisation. The same smirk that Cohen now returns every time the Canadian kneels before him.

"He did it for the first time in Canada, at the first concert. I wanted to die. He gave me that nasty look ... I told him not to do so again. But he liked and he does. It is a pose, but his way of giving me energy, I helped him and he thanked me. " Deference is not with the other musicians, although some carry with him over 15 years. Only with him. Because Cohen has had to struggle to have this Zaragoza in front of the stage. The union demanded that American musicians were established that there was no American capable of assuming the post But as with any foreigner. Archilaud even knew.

The pastor of the golden voice

Until that Cohen and more have been playing together, have had to go a long way. It all started when singer with Leonard Cohen Chords heard the tribute paid to him in 2007 a group of devotees Spanish (Santiago Auserón, Christina Rosenvinge, Luz Casal, and of course, Mas). It also involved the son of Cohen and his then partner, Anjani Thomas. "They told me that he would love. I did not pay much attention. You have made many tributes ...", shrugs, still smoking. But do not talk. "Nobody had gotten mandolin Cohen's music. His arrangements, style But pervaded the compositions of a new atmosphere. The Saragossa, despite the applause of the public and international criticism, plays down his contribution: "I only do decorations. I am inspired by the work of virtuoso John Bilezikjian, who accompanied him to the Arab lute in the eighties, was more innovative as he did. "

Cohen should not agree. In the first trial in Los Angeles, began with Dance Me to the End of Love and Javier played the same arrangements-Mediterranean almost sirtaki-he had composed for Luz Casal on disk. "Eventually I approached him. I asked if I bothered. Cohen responded with a Zen master phrase: "Play what you heart out." But he returned to his hotel with confirmation that the man applied to his life the same philosophy that sprinkles his lyrics and music. It led him to retreat to a monastery for years and now return in triumph. And another certainty: the Cohen that he had seen on stage was the same man who is now beside her, at her side. "There are people who can not sing seriously when tested. But he did, he was there. And I sang real", highlights, excited.

"Leonard is a man of rotund phrases" he explains. "The talks with him are always interesting. He never dared to correct him. Even when he says "From Barselouna, Havier Mas". I tried without much success, to learn to pronounce "mandolin" and "archilaud" with his r's, his ches and accents. Nor has it discussed with him why he has on many occasions as "The sweet shepherd of the strings" (The sweet pastor of the strings). The words, for the poet: "I want to condition. If I say 'ah, you said this evening that I arrive' is like forcing him to repeat it." The Canadian left the same freedom. He briefly explained what his role: "You have to do art while I sing." But beating quickly answered the strings of their instruments, which support its vibrant tremolo with the singer's voice. The result is a Lover, lover, lover flamenco sounds more than ever, or an introduction of nearly two minutes to Gypsy's wife, which is center stage for the Spanish with his hat. "I improvise whenever such entry, even in the listening tests. Habré touched a thousand different". One of his favorite live is Bird on the wire, in which his participation is minimal: "I play less, more accurate. And prepare things, write them at the hotel.

In rooms always first class. "This is like signing for Madrid or Barca: private jet, hotelazos" he explains. It makes you more illusion about their projects. He has recorded with The Swell Season, who won the Oscar for best original song for the movie Once. Not hide the illusion when commenting on what lies ahead in 2010 with Cohen. He hopes that the troubadour would risk playing more songs alone with his guitar. "Honestly, I think some solo tracks sound better." He says, in passing: "We are preparing new songs. You can not give more details. As if she could not believe it, as when the man with the gift of the golden voice "(as presumed in Tower of Song) was asked to play with him, help him with his guitar. There are already scheduled concerts. The tour kicks off in France this year. Javier Mas return to their ropes graze Mediterranean between the old themes of Cohen. Also among the new. You always leave the heart and not because I have all her albums, but it is impossible to refuse a favor that voice.
A man, a thousand styles

Raimundo Amador made guitar Javier Mas see with different eyes. "He was 16, I 21. ... I was impressed that rhythm is the Jimi Hendrix Spanish. They lived together for years. "It's a brother going through Barcelona always ask him to go on stage. Raymond believes that Cohen was set at Xavier for his versatility: "To play the blues with the mandolin! The music is more art than technology." Joaquin Carbonell, who also played with Xavier, goes further. "I am more comfortable in the blues, rock and roll music ... is their homeland. Tell that to the musicians' union. Or the great Albert Collins, who brought up a young Javier when he saw him play with his band Big Chief. The folk also had its importance to Mas. "Bob Dylan changed my life." The arrangements for the songs ready Carbonell, which shared tastes, were on that line. The singer Aragon warns: "I have predicted that he will play with Dylan. And it's funny because at the end is that Mediterranean touch, he learned next to Maria del Mar Bonet, who is going to make world-famous, that's because Javier is not prejudices. It does less to any style. "

[LEONKA]

Juan Luis

Many thanks, to the sharing of photos and an interview with Javier Mas.

[confetti]

thanks for that Juan Luis, glad to see Raimundo Amador mentioned in it as well. He is an excellent musician.

[sturgess66]

I wish Google would translate better - "he" is "she" and "sound checks" is "listening tests" - but these are both interesting articles. Javier prepares new improvisations for upcoming shows at the hotel - for songs like "The Gypsy's Wife." But one of his favorite songs - even though he does not improvise - is the "Bird" song. Me too. And, I love where Javier mentions Leonard's kneeling beside him - and I think, of course, of "First We Take Manhattan" - and the "thank you" about those gifts.

Everything has been incorporated naturally into his music, and a smile betrays that he is still enjoying the game, with the mixture, with improvisation. The same smirk that Cohen now returns every time the Canadian kneels before him.

"He did it for the first time in Canada, at the first concert. I wanted to die. He gave me that nasty look ... I told him not to do so again. But he liked and he does. It is a pose, but his way of giving me energy, I helped him and he thanked me.

And apparently Leonard had to deal with union red tape to have Javier on tour - to prove that there was no one with Javier's expertise available in the US for such instruments as the archilaud mandolin.

[bridger15]

I Take this opportunity to thank all of the over 20,000 hits on my videos of Leonard's last concert in Madrid:

http://www.corcobado.net/lcmadrid/videos.html

Best wishes.

Juan Luis.

Thank you, Juan Luis for all of your wonderful videos. They are indeed very special and obviously enjoyed by many people all over the world.

---Arlene

[B4real]

Thank you Juan Luis and Linda,

I especially love this bit,

Everything has been incorporated naturally into his music, and a smile betrays that he is still enjoying the game, with the mixture, with improvisation. The same smirk that Cohen now returns every time the Canadian kneels before him.

"He did it for the first time in Canada, at the first concert. I wanted to die. He gave me that nasty look ... I told him not to do so again. But he liked and he does. It is a pose, but his way of giving me energy, I helped him and he thanked me. "

It says a lot about their (and the band's) relationship doesn't it?

[remote1]

I Take this opportunity to thank all of the over 20,000 hits on my videos of Leonard's last concert in Madrid:

http://www.corcobado.net/lcmadrid/videos.html

Best wishes.


Juan Luis.

Just wanted to say that I converted your videos to mp3 format at the time so that I could listen to the songs on my way to work. They are still on my ipod now and I still listen to them two or three times a week! I really think this concert was particularly good and that he sang most songs with a twist. Thanks for your work Juan Luis, it was a great success as far as I am concerned!

[sturgess66]

Javier Mas has recorded and played with a group called "Swell Season" - a folk-rock duo consisting of Glen Hansard from Ireland and Marketa Irglova, singer/pianist from Czechoslovakia. Javier Mas very recently visited Glen Hansard at his home in Ireland - and this is a video of Glen singing "Back Broke" with beautiful guitar by Javier -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvOIFxOnfVM

[Inna]

So beautiful, thank you sturgess66 for sharing this.

[mutti]

Thank you Sturgess
I loved 'Once' and so it was nice to hear Javier play his amazing sounds with Glen Hansard under the tree in Ireland.
Mutti

[MaryB]

Thank you Linda! Framing Glen and Javier in this scenery is so beautiful and Javier's playing immediately added so much depth to this piece!

[sturgess66]

More mention of Javier Mas with Swell Season:

The Swell Season at McCabe's

I can't believe nearly a month has gone by and I haven't written about this. In what may turn out to be one of the best club shows of the year for me, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performed for a small group of fans (under 150) at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. For nearly 2 hours they sang songs, told stories, made us laugh and thoroughly entertained us all. That they are talented and have written some beautiful songs goes without saying. If you haven't seen them before, the extra piece that makes them so special is their humble and down to earth attitude. When Glen begs you to sing along, he really wants you to be a part of the show. His stories are always touching and funny. In one of them, he gives Bono all of the credit for the Swell Season getting to the Academy Awards (something that changed their lives). Marketa, who is just as humble on stage, was supporting a new hairdo giving her an extra bit of sophistication. Although this is really Glen's band, he always leaves a nice chunk of the set open for Marketa to lead. Sending this show over the top was the inclusion of Javier Mas for several songs near the end of the show. Javier is a guitar player from Spain who was also one of the highlights from Leonard Cohen's recent tour. The pure joy he displays while playing incredible leads on his acoustic guitar was a perfect compliment to the Swell Season. For those of you in So Cal who missed the show, the full band will be playing the Hollywood Bowl this summer. Don't miss them.

http://thepromiselive.blogspot.com/