Under African Skies at BAM
kapeman
Forget Elton John and Hillary Clinton, the place to be Wednesday night
was Paul Simon's spectacular opening night at the Brooklyn Academy of
Music with "Under African Skies."
This is the second of three mini-runs this month for Simon at BAM. The
first was a concert version of his Broadway musical, "Capeman." The
next and last will be more traditional Simon fare such as "Bridge Over
Troubled Water" and solo hits.
But the night was all about Simon's amazing musical journey with
African musicians, showing the roots for the "Graceland" and "Rhythm
of the Saints" albums. Filmmaker/PR guy Dan Klores, who was Simon's
press agent for years, convinced his friend to help raise money for
BAM on for its anniversary.
The program is called "Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon."
Ken Starr and Diane Passage helped produce the event.
Among the guests at the star-studded event: Susan Sarandon with
powerhouse movie producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas; plus Steve Buscemi
and wife, Jo; Cynthia Nixon; Suzanne Vega and hubby, Paul Mills; famed
artist Chuck Close; chef Mario Batali; Ed Schlossberg (husband of
Caroline Kennedy); Eddie Simon (Paul's manager brother); Edie Brickell
(Mrs. Simon); and producer Phil Ramone, who gave the event its lush
and perfect sound (as usual).
The highlights were many, but ex-Talking Head David Byrne's solo
performance of Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" was a tour de force. Byrne
remains an ingratiatingly awkward performer. For "Al" he did a kind of
ostrich dance and mambo, winningly singing off-key and totally
captivating the audience. It was just genius.
Other guests included Ladysmith Black Mambazo with the amazing African
singer Vusi Mahlasela, who solo'd the vocal on "The Obvious Child,"
aka "These Are the Days of Miracles and Wonder," with aplomb.
A star is born! The very pregnant Brazilian jazz singer Luciana Souza
also got cameos and much applause, particularly for Simon's lesser-
known songs "Further to Fly" and "Can't Run But...," each, like "Obvious
Child," from the underrated "Rhythm of the Saints."
I counted 10 musicians in Simon's band, seven instrumentalists and
three background singers. They sounded as if they were 10 times as
strong in number. That's how rich, textured and precise the
orchestrations were.
Simon, himself, is center stage all through the show. He's very much
there, leading the cheerfully historic Ladysmith Black Mambazo through
a bunch of songs they did together, such as "Graceland," "Homeless"
and "Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes." Simon still gets a good
rousing hometown cheer for the couplet "There's a girl in New York
City/Who calls herself the human trampoline."
And he even got a little personal, telling the audience: "There are so
many people here who I've worked with over the years, I'm a little
emotional."
paul
Thank you so much for the prompt and detailed posting. I've been
searching the web for a review, or any comments, regarding this show
this morning and this is the first I've been able to find. You
certainly capture the excitement of this special show in your report.
I'm really looking forward to going this Saturday night. Great report.
kapeman
Probably clipped the heading when I cut and pasted.......sorry. I
too am seeing it on Sat night. Can't wait.
Paul Fournier
A-listers that attended and less of an emphasis on what Paul actually
played, so I guess I should have known that it was from "Fox News" or the
like and not written by an AMPS member! That being said, I was happy to get
some details on what sounds like a fantastic show.
"kapeman" <kap...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:85272e43-cf38-41d9...@2g2000hsn.googlegroups.com...
Paul Fournier
forum at this link:
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/mb/dmc?forum=1867
"Paul Fournier" <four...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:0zzLj.21951$Ah1.4979@trnddc08...
Gladys
> I posted my report of last night's Under African Skies Show at BAM in the
> forum at this link:
> http://www.websitetoolbox.com/mb/dmc?forum=1867
>
Hey Paul - great review and pictures - you must have been to our right a
few seats - maybe just down the row from the 2 people who sat on their
asses while the whole place danced. I think I even heard the chick say
"these seats are cute". I spied some people having a great time over
there - must have been you. :-)
Simply stated it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. The band
was so freakin' good and everyone involved was just having a great time.
As they played one great song after another I kept wondering how they
could possibly top it. I had read that Byrnes rendition of "call me al"
was disjointed, but it was anything but - he nailed it right on the
head. All the vocalists were so good and when he wasn't singing Simon
was having a blast backing them up - it was great to see him in such a
relaxed and jovial setting.
Cool that you ran into Vincent - was it at the vienese place across the
street from BAM? We tried to get a table there -no luck. We ran into him
in the elevator at our hotel - he seemed surprised to be recognized.
LOL. He was ON FIRE all night long - a great performance.
What a show - one for the ages - well worth the trip from Colorado. :-)
Gladys.
Paul Fournier
Thanks for your kind words. It sounds like you had as much fun as I did.
Every musical moment was so special. There was absolutely no filler in this
show to any extent. It seems many peopled traveled for this show, I am now
aware of people who traveled from London, Tokyo, Toronto, and Colorado ...
and I came from DC (but you all beat me in terms of distance!). Anyway, I'm
looking for a clean place to stay near BAM for the 26th. Can you tell me
where you stayed? Many people have recommended the Marriott at the Brooklyn
Bridge on Adams st., but I just want to check if you might have stayed at
another good place convenient to BAM.
Thanks.
Paul
Washington, DC
"Gladys" <just...@say.it.anymore> wrote in message
news:qMadnR-O36XXOZ7V...@wispertel.com...
Gladys
We stayed at the Marriot Brooklyn Bridge. It was a fine place to stay.