Album Description
Matador is Patricia O'Callaghan's fifth recording on Marquis. On Matador, Patricia brings her special ability to find new meaning in great songs to the music of Leonard Cohen. With the backing of a great band and guest singers, Patricia explores the emotional depths and meaning of the songwriter and poet's music. Patricia O'Callaghan idea behind the title: "The Matador Tavern is a legend in Toronto, where Cohen used to go, and which the song "Closing Time" was about. It's a strong, evocative, and romantic title, and, well, Cohen is a bit of a matador, certainly a lady killer, and a fighter for truth, someone who's willing to go to the edge, and like the matador, he is a dying breed." As a bonus, Matador features four Leonard Cohen songs from Patricia's previous Marquis recordings including her celebrated version of "Hallelujah", and "The Smokey Life", a duet with Steven Page. Since her first album Youkali, which Billboard called "a thoroughly charming album", Patricia has received accolades from reviewers and fans alike. The Los Angeles Times said that "she brings an easy grace, and special understanding and luminosity" to the songs. Timothy White, the late editor of Billboard, wrote a special editorial about Patricia, and called her "the most promising cabaret artist of her generation", and Playboy Magazine said "What a concept, a gorgeous voice and a gorgeous melody... O'Callaghan will break (or steal) your heart."
Album Description
On Matador, Patricia brings her special ability to find new meaning in great songs to the music of Leonard Cohen. With the backing of a great band and guest singers, Patricia explores the emotional depths and meaning of the songwriter and poet's music.
