HAL WILLNER PROJECTS
The world lost our friend and former collaborator, the music producer Hal Willner, to Covid on April 7, 2020, a day after his 64th birthday. A lot has been said about Hal, and you can read all about his life and adventures in beautiful obituaries and remembrances published in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and elsewhere. He was beloved and revered by a staggering number of people in the music and art worlds, from the famous (and infamous) to the obscure, for his exceptional talents as a producer and, more deeply, for the singular way he valued art and artists. Hal seemed to understand things about the bravery and vulnerability of performance and creativity that can’t be articulated, ineffable things that make art, and how it can make us feel, the closest thing to magic that exists in the world. He was a bit of a wizard himself--a goofy, flawed, hilarious, kvetchy, generous, badass one, with special powers to bring artists together and help them reveal their truest work. They loved him for that, and so did we.
THE OFFICE was fortunate to work with Hal for more than a decade, mainly as producer of his unique multi-artist concept shows. These drew together diverse collections of performers to examine a single artist or some body of work--Leonard Cohen, Edgar Allen Poe, Bill Withers, pirate songs and sea shanties, etc--in a one-time-only performance. We produced around 25 of them (the real number is lost to history) between 2002 and 2012 around the world, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House, the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver to the Southbank in London to St. Mark’s Church on the Bowery. These were affairs fraught with peril and the excitement of the unknown: highwire acts of live, in-the-moment interpretation, with disaster always looming and the sublime inevitably discovered. Planning these shows with Hal for months or longer and then spending a week or more with him and a group of like-minded musicians, singers, crew, hangers on, and friends to make them happen led to some of our finest art capers. At the end, he always said, “Well, what have we learned?” He got that from Harry Smith I think. We miss you, Hal.
--Olli Chanoff, June 2020
Came So Far For Beauty: An Evening Of Leonard Cohen Songs, Sydney Opera House, 2005
An almost complete list of multi-artist concept shows and albums by Hal Willner, Produced by THE OFFICE
The Freedom Rides Project
Meltdown Festival, Southbank Centre (2012)
Tony Kofi
Tim Robbins
Steve Bernstein
Nona Hendrix
Lou Reed
King Khan
Josette Newsam-marchak
Jd Parran
Jason Walker
James Staten
James Carter
Helga Davis
Harry Brown
Geri Allen
Eric Mingus
Chris Spedding
The Carthys
Carla Cook
Brad Jones
Billybragg
Allison Miller
The Freedom Rides Project
Celebrate Brooklyn! (2011)
Rosanne Cash
Toa Seeger
Toshi Reagon
Eric Mingus
Lou Reed
Tod Rundgren
Geri Allen
Art Baron
Steve Bernstein
Steve Cardenas
James Carter
Carla Cook
Helga Davis
Curtis Fowlkes
Briggan Krauss
Eric Mingus
James Staten
Jason Walker
Marcel Davis-lashley
Josette Newsam-marchak
Jd Parran
The Freedom Rides Project
Daily Motion Clinton Foundation Benefit (2011)
Geri Allen
Art Baron
Steve Bernstein
Steve Cardenas
James Carter
Carla Cook
Helga Davis
Curtis Fowlkes
Briggan Krauss
Eric Mingus
Jd Parran
Lou Reed
Catherine Russell
Tao Seeger
James Staten
Jason Walker
Dream Comfort Memory Despair: The Songs Of Neil Young
Vancouver Cultural Olympiad (2010)
Lou Reed
Elvis Costello
Mark Kozelek
Teddy Thompson
Eric Mingus
Jenni Muldaur
Ambrosia Parsley
Ron Sexsmith
Vashti Bunyan
Alasdair Roberts
James Blood Ulmer
Joan Wasser
Ben Perowsky
Fred Cash
Doug Weiselman
Shahzad Ismaily
Rob Burger
Brendan Canning
Andrew Whiteman
Chris Brown
Sam Goldberg
Justin Peroff
Bill Priddle
Kevin Drew
Jason Collett
Julie Doiron
Liz Powell
Kaddish
Park Avenue Armory (2012)
Hal Willner
Chloe Webb
Ralph Steadman
Bill Frisell
Doug Wieselman
Jenny Scheinman
Curtis Fowlkes
Kenny Wollesen
Hank Roberts
Eyvind Kang
Ron Miles
Robin Holcomb
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues? Music And Readings From A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs
Lincoln Center American Songbook Series (2010)
Sting
Lou Reed
Rufus Wainwright
Shannon Mcnally
Marc Anthony Thompson
Bill Frisell
Van Dyke Parks
Steven Bernstein
Jenni Muldaur
Ken Nordine
Roy Nathanson
Bill Ware
Sam Bardfeld
Andy Laster
Curtis Fowlkes
Scott Kuney
Mary Wooten
Amy Berger
Ben Perowsky
Kenji Bunch
Tony Garnier
Joyce Hammann
Hugo Dwyer
Christine Ohlman
Keep A Light In The Window: An Homage To Joel Dorn
Lincoln Center Out Of Doors Festival (2008)
Mocean Worker
Dr. John
David Fathead Newman
Janice Segal
Les Mccann
Wardell Quezergue
Roberta Flack
Jane Monheit
Mose Allison
Cornell Dupree
Black Heat
Leslie Mendelson
The Persuasions
The Bill Withers Project
Celebrate Brooklyn! (2008)
Charlie Burnham
Cornell Dupree
Corey Glover
Henry Grimes
Nona Hendryx
Jim James
Angelique Kidjo
Eric Mingus
Janine Nichols
The Persuasions
Sandra St. Victor
The Swell Season
Howard Tate
James Blood Ulmer
Steven Bernstein
Lenny Pickett
Rob Burger
Jeff Haynes
Jared Scharff
Charlie Burnham
Dana Lyn
Sarah Bernstein
Jane Scarpantoni
Marika Hughes
Melanie Dyer
Christine Ohlman
Harriet Tubman:
Melvin Gibbs
J.T. Lewis
Brandon Ross
Music Director
Steven Bernstein
Additional Arrangements By Lenny Pickett
Howard Tate's Arrangements By Steve Weisberg
The Doc Pomus Project
Celebrate Brooklyn (2007)
Sharyn Felder
Lou Reed
Joseph Arthur
Shannon Mcnally
Teddy Thompson
Adam Dorn
Joel Dorn
Peter Guralnick
Sharon Jones
Ben E King
Steve Bernstien
Briggan Krauss
Knox Chandler
Don Falzone
Rob Burger
Jane Scarpantoni
Charlie Burnham
Kenny Wollesen
David Schnirman
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man Soundtrack Album
Verve Forecast (2006)
Executive Producer
Came So Far For Beauty: An Evening Of Leonard Cohen Songs
Dublin International Theatre Festival (2006)
Nick Cave
Lou Reed
Beth Orton
Jarvis Cocker
Mary Margaret O'hara
Perla Batalla
Julie Christensen
Handsome Family
Teddy Thompson
Robin Holcomb
Antony
Gavin Friday
Steve Bernstien
Rob Burger
Briggan Krauss
Joan Wasser
Maxim Moston
Charlie Burnham
Don Falzone
Kenny Wollesen
Kate St. John
Chris Spedding
David Schnirman
Came So Far For Beauty: An Evening Of Leonard Cohen Songs With Our Ladies On The Harbor
Sydney Opera House (2005)
Perla Batalla
Steven Bernstein
Rob Burger
Charlie Burnham
Nick Cave
Julie Christensen
Jarvis Cocker
David Coulter
Don Falzone
The Handsome Family
Smokey Hormel
Briggan Krauss
Kate & Anna Mcgarrigle
Maxim Moston
Beth Orton
Linda Thompson
Teddy Thompson
Martha Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright
Joan Wasser
Kenny Wollesen
Let’s Eat! A Feast Of The Firesign Theater
UCLA (2005)
John Goodman
Howard Hesseman
Scott Wainio
Nelson Lyon
Chloe Webb
Tod Rundgren
Mark Mckinney
Ralph Carney
David Thomas
Steve Wiessberg
Tim Meadows
George Wendt
Perla Batalla
Julie Christensen
Phil Austin
Peter Bergman
Came So Far For Beauty: An Evening Of Leonard Cohen Songs
Brighton Festival (2004)
Guest Artists
Nick Cave
Jarvis Cocker
The Handsome Family
Kate & Anna Mcgarrigle
Linda Thompson
Teddy Thompson
Martha Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright
Perla Batalla
Julie Christensen
Steven Bernstein
Rob Burger
Charlie Burnham
Don Falzone
Smokey Hormel
Briggan Krauss
Maxim Mosten
Joan Wasser
Kenny Wollesen
Music Director: Steven Bernstein
Shock And Awe: The Songs Of Randy Newman
Royce Hall, UCLA Live (2004)
E From Eels
Howard Tate
Bill Frisell
Maurice Seezer
Gavin Friday
Robin Holcomb
Stan Ridgeway
Dave Hidalgo
Vic Chesnutt
Ed Harcourt
Steve Berlin
Oren Bloedow
Jennifer Charles
Pete Thomas
David Faragher
Val Mccallum
John Ventimiglia
Bob Newirth
Perla Batalla
Julie Christensen
Ellen Greene
Victoria Williams
Jon Brion
Rip Torn
Marc Anthony Thompson
Van Dyke Parks
Steve Wiesberg
[Shock And Awe CONTINUED]
Eric Liljestrand
Greg Leiszz
Jimmy Fallon
Musicians
Leah Katz
Ted Reichman
Glen Patscha
Pablo Calogero
Sal Cracchiolo
Paul Litteral
Bruce Fowler
Sebastian Steinberg
Danny Frankel
William Roper
George Mcmullen
Evan Cofsky
Neil Leonard
Charlie Bartsch
Diego Miralles
Julie Carpenter
Nick Franco
Eric Gorfain
Michael Roth
Craig Godfrey
Dream Comfort Memory Despair: The Songs Of Neil Young
Celebrate Brooklyn! (2004)
Ron Sexsmith
Beth Orton
Jane Siberry
Cat Power (Chan Marshall)
Iron And Wine
Antony
Sun Kil Moon (Mark Kozelek)
James "Blood" Ulmer
Bonfire Madigan
Jenni Muldaur
Ambrosia Parsley
Kevin Breit
Teddy Thompson
Fred Armisen
Katherine O'hara
Eugene Levy
Ben Perowsky
Fred Cash
Rainy Orteca
Rob Burger
Doug Weiselman
Briggan Krauss
Maxim Moston
Julia Kent
Joan Wasser Violin, Guitar
Robert "Chicken" Burke
Sting And Trudie Styler’s Rainforest Benefit
Carnegie Hall (2004)
Project Management
David Staubauer
Narada
Sting
James Taylor
Billy Joel
Elton John
Antonio Bandares
Bette Midler
Jimmy Scott
Steven Bernstien
Greg Cohen
Bob Millekan -lead
Randy Sandke
Art Baron
Clarke Gayton
Curtis Fowlkes
Terry Dodgen
Ted Nash
Jay Branford ??
Eric Charleston
Dennis Mackrell
James Chirillo
Ken Peplowski
Bill Easely
Ted Rosenthal
Larry Goldings
Jenni Muldaur
Ambrosia Parsley
Sandy Park
Gil Goldstein
Came So Far For Beauty: An Evening Of Leonard Cohen Songs
Celebrate Brooklyn! (2003)
Rufus Wainwright
Marc Ribot
Mcgarrigles
Nick Cave
Martha Wainwright
Perla Batalla
Julie Christensen
Handsome Family
Linda Thompson
Teddy Thompson
Steve Bernstien
Rob Burger
Marc Anthony Thompson
Laurie Anderson
Kenny Wolleson
Briggan Krauss
Don Fanzone
Michael Blake
Joan Wasser
Max Mosten
Charlie Burnham
Robert Wilson's White Town
Copenhagen (2003)
Hal Willner, Music Supervisor
Project Manager
Stormy Weather: The Music Of Harold Arlen (Album)
Ray Anderson
Harold Arlen
Tex Arnold
Joe Ascione
Rick Baptist
Steve Berlin
Sandra Bernhard
Steven Bernstein
Eddie Bert
Chris Bleth
The Boswell Sisters
Greg Cohen
Jim Cox
Cenovia Cummins
Ian Cuttler
The Dorsey Brothers
Andrew Downing
Tim Emmons
Peter Erskine
Lawrence Feldman
Simon Fryer
Sam Furnace
David Gale
Jack Gale
Grant Geissman
Vince Giordano
Sophie Giraud
Richard Greene
John Gzowski
Debbie Harry
David Hidalgo
Dan Higgins
Viliam Hrubovcak
Greg Huckins
Fujice Imajishi
Scott Irvine
David Johansen
John "Woog" Johnson
Alastair Kay
Peter Kent
Arnie Kinsella
Brian Koonin
Ron Lawrence
Emily Lazar
Ranee Lee
J.T. Lewis
Eric Liljestrand
John Macleod
Rusty Mccarthy
Shannon Mcnally
Michael Melvoin
Eric Mingus
Maxim Moston
Roy Nathanson
Milton Nelson
Mary Margaret O'Hara
Earl Palmer
Van Dyke Parks
Mark Pender
Bucky Pizzarelli
Mark Promane
Jon Regen
Sarah Register
Gerald Robinson
Jay Rodriguez
Adam Rogers
John Rosenberg
Jane Scarpantoni
Terrence Schonig
Little Jimmy Scott
Lee Sklar
Roxanne Slimak
Michael Sloski
James Spragg
Edmund Stein
Rob Thomas
Ernie Tollar
Jerry Vivino
Rufus Wainwright
Larry Weinstein
Steve Weisberg
Perry White
Sharon Williams
Chuck Wilson
Hawksley Workman
Maurice Wozniak
Garo Yellin
Hal Willner's Halloween Show: Never Bet The Devil Your Head
Royce Hall – Ucla Live (2002)
Amanda Plummer
Chloe Webb
Danny Frankel
Eric Lilljestrand
Harry Shearer
Howard Hessman
Hubert Selby
Janine Nichols
Karen Black
Kembra Pfahler
Lou Reed
Michael Rooker
Nelson Lyon
Pamela Kurstin
Ralph Carney
Ron Athey
Steve Weissberg
Will Ferrell
The Doc Pomus Project
St. Mark’s Church On The Bowery (2002)
Adam Dorn
Joel Dorn
Peter Guvalnick
Robin Holcomb
Garth Hudson
Maud Hudson
Dr. John
Shannnon Mcnalley
Eric Mingus
Bob Mould
Janine Nichols
Lou Reed
Jimmy Scott
Sandra St. Victor
Marc Antony Thompson
Tony “Thunder” Smith
Fernando Saunders
Mike Rothke
Sex Mob
Steven Burnstien
Knox Chandler
Brad Jones
Briggen Krauss
Kenny Wolleen
Charlie Burnham
John Regan
Jane Scarpantoni
Closed On Account Of Rabies: The Tales Of Edgar Allen Poe
Royce Hall – UCLA Live (2001)
Amanda Plummer
Catherine O'hara
Chloe Webb
Chris Parnell
Cloris Leachman
David Jay
David Duchovney
Elysian Fields
Eric Roberts
Harry Shearer
Hubert Selby
Janine Nichols
Joyce Rooks
Michael Rooker
Ralph Carney
Robert Wisdom
Shawn Hatosy
Sid Straw