01/29/08

LOVE IN HARD TIMES: THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON at BAM

LOVE IN HARD TIMES:
THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON

Brooklyn, NY/January 29, 2008--BAM presents Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon, three unique engagements --all part of a series celebrating and exploring the music and lyrics of Paul Simon. Inspired by locales ranging from the Mississipi Delta to the townships of Johannesburg, the extraordinary music of Paul Simon will be part of BAM's Spring 2008 season in April. The three programs include Songs from The Capeman, Under African Skies, and American Tunes and will include performers such as Oscar Hernández and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Claudette Sierra, Obie Bermudez, Ray de la Paz, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Hugh Masekela, Milton Nascimento, Kaïssa, David Byrne, Luciana Souza, Cyro Baptista,Olu Dara, Grizzly Bear, The Roches, and others including Paul Simon. Phil Ramone is the musical advisor for Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon.

"We are so pleased that Paul agreed to let us do this series. He is a true New York City and BAM artist--courageous, pioneering, and deeply heartfelt. His unique storytelling through music has touched the world. There is an elegance to his music," commented BAM Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo. BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins added, "Paul Simon's vast body of work over 40 years warranted a new kind of retrospective. BAM wanted to give audiences over an extended period of time the opportunity to experience the totality of his talent and contribution to popular music."

Tickets for the Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon engagements go on sale Feb 11 (Feb 4 for Friends of BAM and Visa Signature cardholders). For ticket information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100 or order online at BAM.org.

The first event of the series, Songs from The Capeman, (April 1-6), will be a concert staging of the 1998 Broadway show The Capeman that includes the doo-wop, rock and roll, and Latin rhythms of a special New York musical era. The music of The Capeman was written by Paul Simon with lyrics by Paul Simon and Derek Walcott. The Capeman is based on the life of Salvador Agrón, a Puerto Rican teenager convicted of murder in 1959. Grammy-nominated Oscar Hernández and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Latin Jazz vocalist and original Capeman cast member Claudette Sierra, Latin Grammy-winning artist Obie Bermudez, Salsa and Jazz singer Ray de la Paz, and Paul Simon are confirmed to appear with more artists to be announced. This engagement will also feature a special appearance by Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Under African Skies (April 9-13) rekindles Paul's passion for the rhythms of South Africa and Brazil represented in the Grammy Award-winning, critically acclaimed albums Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints. Simon will be joined by South African trumpeter and composer Hugh Masekela, Brazilian singer/songwriter Milton Nascimento, Cameroonian vocalist Kaïssa, David Byrne, Brazilian songstress Luciana Souza, and world renowned Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista. Simon's band will include: Jay Ashby (trombone), Anthony Cedras (keys & accordion), Steve Gadd (drums), Jamey Haddad (percussion), Jim Hynes (trumpet), Bakithi Kumalo (bass), Vincent Nguini (guitar), and Andrew Snitzer (saxophone). Many of which were members of his original Graceland band. Mark Stewart will be the musical director for Under African Skies.

American Tunes (April 23-27) will be a revisit to the quiet railway stations, urban sounds, and immigrant dreams covering a wide range of songs throughout Paul Simon's brilliant career. American bluesman Olu Dara, Brooklyn-based indie band Grizzly Bear, and harmonic trio The Roches and others to be announced will all be performing along with Paul Simon.

SONGS FROM THE CAPEMAN
Oscar Hernández and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Featuring performances by Claudette Sierra, Obie Bermudez, Ray De La Paz, Paul Simon
Special guest performance by Little Anthony and The Imperials
More artists to be announced

Apr 1—6 at 8pm
BAM Harvey Theater
$30, 50, 65

UNDER AFRICAN SKIES
Featuring performances by Hugh Masekela, Milton Nascimento, Kaïssa, David Byrne, Luciana Souza, Paul Simon
More artists to be announced

Apr 9* at 7pm
Apr 10—13 at 8pm
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
$45, 60, 75, 95
*BAM 2008 Spring Gala

AMERICAN TUNES
Featuring performances by Olu Dara, Grizzly Bear, The Roches, Paul Simon
More artists to be announced

Apr 23—27 at 8pm
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
$45, 60, 75, 95

see http://www.bam.org/events/08PAUL/08PAUL.aspx for more details and ticketing information.

See Video

Fast Car - Wyclef Jean featuring Paul Simon

Paul added his talents to the new Wyclef Jean single "Fast Car". Check out the video here.

See Video

You Can Call Me Al

Original music video for "You Can Call Me Al" from the 1986 album Graceland, featuring Chevy Chase.

06/11/07

PAUL SIMON SWINGS WITH THE SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA

A Salsa take on Paul Simon's 1980 hit, "Late in the Evening," is featured on the new release from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. United We Swing, out now in stores, includes "Late In The Evening/Tarde En La Noche," a Paul Simon staple originally featured in Simon's 1980 album and film, One-Trick Pony. Simon first collaborated with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra's musical director, Oscar Hernandez, on his 1998 Broadway musical, The Capeman.

"I was talking to Paul and asked him if he would want to be a guest on our album," Hernandez said. "No sooner had the words come out of my mouth and he said, 'I'd love to. What are you thinking about?' I was floored and completely honored. Paul Simon doesn't just record with anybody."
"The first verse that he sings a cappella is distinctively different. He told me to leave it like that because he didn't want it to sound like the original. It's more like a dream years later. The combination is really cool. I was going to do it with the original horn lines but in this case I took it to the realm of what we are all about."