The Secret Chord
Celebrating the Life and Music
of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen – Poet, songwriter, spiritual teacher – left an indelible mark on the world, with his timeless music: A celebration of the human journey, in all its grit and glory. Cohen’s music has – literally – the power to elevate consciousness and change lives. The Secret Chord began early in 2023, inspired by the documentary Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song.
The Secret Chord is a six-piece band that incorporates elements of folk, jazz and rock into performance. We bring our own unique flavor to Cohen’s songs, the fruits of over a century of combined musical experience. We are faithful to the spirit of Cohen’s music, while always seeking to perform it with our own creative stamp.
Performances
Cohen’s songs have been covered by a number of outstanding artists – yet there are few opportunities to hear this music live. In fact, as far as we know, we are the only active Leonard Cohen cover band in the U.S.! Come see us this Fall at…
Come see the Secret Chord’s “vocal concentrate” for 90 minutes of Cohen classics, plus a mix of other great music that you know and love! — By donation
Watch & Listen
Below, enjoy a few selections from our Hawks & Reed show in April 2024. For more, please visit us on Youtube – we’re adding new material all the time!
WHO WE ARE
Gordon Kramer, Guitar and Vocals
To his role as the "Leonard" of The Secret Chord, Gordon brings decades of musical experience that began with evenings around the piano singing Broadway tunes and jazz standards with his family. Gordon's musical career has included performing his original music at venues in Boston, Chicago and Western Massachusetts, lead roles in musical theatre, and more recently as part of the band River Rhapsody.
Ruth Critcher, Vocals
“First Angel" and vocal arranger extraordinaire, Ruth has a long history of singing in a variety of ensembles, including the Massachusetts-based a capella group, After The Rain. She has explored creative expression as a writer, editor, painter, and more recently through musical arrangement and songwriting.
Ray Grigonis, Bass
Ray Grigonis' love of the Bass began at age 13; Self taught, he grooved to heavy & classic rock, morphing with his Canadian roots, into Progressive Rock, where epic stories and erratic time signatures cracked him open. Over the past 15 years, Ray's had the privilege to raise his musical bar, playing and performing with a wide range of musicians, throughout Massachusetts.
Patrick Kelley, Drums
Patrick has been playing drums officially since 5th grade (1961) but remembers banging on his mom's pots and pans much earlier. His first "drum" was an old banjo without the neck. He owns and still plays the first drum set he bought in 1964. His percussive musical journey has ranged from high school sock hops to garage bands, weddings and outdoor festivals.
Jody Spitz, Vocals
Rounding out The Secret Chord's vocal chorus, Jody grew up in a home filled with music almost 24/7, everything from classical to folk to Broadway musicals. Since middle school, Jody has performed in a number of choral groups and musical theatre productions, and helped found the environmental advocacy theater troupe, The Recycled Paper Players. More recently, Jody performed for 15 years with the local community chorus Amandla/Fiery Hope.
Jesse Sprole, Keyboard
Born in Upstate New York, classically-trained keyboardist Jesse Sprole has been searching for beauty and catharsis through music since inheriting an old Lester upright as a boy. After pursuing studies in creative writing, music, and West African drumming, he settled in various places and travelled to many more, finally landing in what he would like to call his permanent home here in the Pioneer Valley.
REPERTOIRE
The Secret Chord’s repertoire includes two full sets of Cohen masterworks spanning the entire 50-year range of his musical career, with musical styles ranging from folk to rock to blues and jazz ballads, and themes ranging from the tenderest love ballads to the fiercest social and political commentary.
So Long Marianne
Joan of Arc
Suzanne
I Tried to Leave You
Come Healing
If It Be Your Will
Dance Me to the End of Love
Democracy
Going Home
Ain’t No Cure for Love
Hallelujah
Tower of Song
Anthem
Everybody Knows
Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye
Boogie Street (by Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson)
Famous Blue Raincoat
First We Take Manhattan
Take This Waltz
The Window
Night Comes On
Tonight Will Be Fine
You Got Me Singing
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