As Leonard Cohen’s marathon world tour completed its final North American leg last week, Sharon Robinson –Cohen’s frequent songwriting partner, occasional producer and currently his full-time backing vocalist – says she’s looking forward to her upcoming vacation, and to its end. “I’m gonna cram as much of nothing as I can into the next three weeks,” she told me as she prepared to leave her Boston hotel room for an afternoon of pre-concert sightseeing. “It’s not that long a break before we leave for Europe, but nobody cares. We all know we’re part of something special here, and everyone’s enjoying themselves.”

The sultry-voiced Robinson has been pulling double duty for much of the last year, appearing nightly on the 74-year-old Cohen’s tour while promoting her first solo album. Titled Everybody Knows, after the now-classic song she co-wrote with Cohen nearly two decades ago, the gorgeous album of jazzy soul blends new originals like the first single, “Invisible Tattoo,” with titles familiar to the legendary singer’s fans. (The title track is one of Cohen’s most familiar songs of the last two decades, but Robinson’s version features a compelling new arrangement and a revamped melody.) She self-released the CD last year, and recently picked up a distribution deal for the UK and Europe with Freeworld Records; the album has sold nicely at Cohen’s concerts, spurred no doubt by her nightly spotlight turn on the percolating “Boogie Street.”

That tune debuted on Cohen’s 2001 album Ten New Songs, which Robinson produced. She had first worked with the Canadian legend on his memorable Field Commander Cohen tour in 1979, and her career has woven in and out of his ever since. (Among her other projects: co-writing the Patti LaBelle hit “New Attitude” and earning a Grammy along with other contributors to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack.) Additionally, a song she co-wrote with Cohen, “Summertime,” was a highlight of Diana Ross’ Red Hot Rhythm & Blues album; Robinson finally recorded it herself for Everybody Knows.