Leonard Cohen shows Montreux that he's still the man

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

MONTREUX, Switzerland (AFP) — Poet-singer Leonard Cohen on Tuesday night won over the Montreux Jazz Festival with his smooth deep voice and dry humour as he made his first appearance at the event for 23 years.

Almost 74 years old, but looking dapper in a pin-striped suit, grey shirt and hat, Cohen joked with the packed hall about his decision to tour again after a long layoff.

"It's been a long time I've stood up on the stage, about 14 years -- I was 60, just a kid with a crazy dream," Cohen said.

"Since then I've taken a lot of Prozac... also studied religion and philosophy, but cheerfulness kept breaking through," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd in a lead up to a song called 'Ain't no cure for love'.

Cohen, in his third appearance at the...