I'm going to the entire review after the jump as not to spoil it for anyone who might be going to see the show this weekend...........
Last night was the second of five "Under African Skies" performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
The show started with Ladysmith Black Mambazo taking the stage without any musical accompaniment. The nine-member South African choral group came out and did two beautiful African songs, one of which sounded quite similar to "Graceland" and it was obviously meant to show that this was the music that so influenced Simon's African-influenced music cycle.
After two songs, Ladysmith Black Mambazo was joined by a backing back of about twelve musicians (The Polyphonic Simon?) for the first real tune of the night, "The Obvious Child," which was sung by Vusi Mahlasela. For that matter, Paul Simon wasn't even on stage at this point.
Simon finally came out to sing “Spirit Voices," but was quickly replaced center stage by Kaissa, a renowned Cameroon world musician, who sang wonderful versions of "Proof" and "Under African Skies". After that performance, Brazilian jazz and bossa nova singer Luciana Souza came out and did a duet with Paul Simon, before taking on full vocal duties for two more songs.
For her fourth song, Souza was then joined by David Byrne for harmonies.
If this was a night to honor the music of Paul Simon, it was also the night that David Byrne stole the show. The lanky lunatic who we so love brought his elastic dancing shoes to the center of the stage for rousing versions of "'I Know What I Know'" and ""You Can Call Me Al," both of which were reworked to sound more like outtakes from Little Creatures.
Simon finally took over vocals for the encore of "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," where he shared the stage with Ladysmith. He then finished the night off with "Graceland".
All in all, it was a good night of music, but I had a lot of issues with the program. First and foremost was the fact that Simon barely sang. When he was on stage, and it seemed that he was only on stage for less than half the actually show, he usually stood behind other performers near the center drum set, where he would occasionally strum his guitar. I had nothing against the numerous guest vocalists, but Simon could easily have done harmonies, sang a verse here-and-there, or simply sung more songs himself.
Also, I know they were filming the show for future dvd or pbs or something, but leaving the houselights on that sleepy dim setting was super annoying. And to make matters worse, after every third song, they would turn on these super bright white crowd spotlights (not normal concert lighting) and it was jarring. It may look good on television later, but it was annoying for the people in the venue.
Overall, it was still a good and enjoyable show, but I really wish there was more Paul Simon in this Paul Simon residency............
Comments (5)
Nice review J-Go. I have to agree with you, Byrne stole the show last night. I was a little shocked that Byrne sang "You Can Call Me Al" without any Simon accompanyment. I mean, I still loved the song, just a little weird that he wouldn't want to be on the stage for his biggest post S&G hit.
Also, did you notice that Simon's guitar was pretty much inaudible for the whole show?
One correction though, the very last song in the show was "That Was Your Mother."
Next year at BAM, the David Byrne residency. Are you listening Joe Melillo?
Posted on April 11, 2008 10:39 AM
I went to the Gala first night, and I couldn't agree more with your review. It honored the music of Paul Simon, just not him playing it. Bryne stole the show that night too, and got the most applause too. Simon just didn't seem to care. Even "Graceland" sounded half-assed.
I'll second that Byrne residency too.
ps. Kinda harsh of you to not classify the Ladysmith openers as "real tunes" though.
Posted on April 11, 2008 1:08 PM
I thought it was one of the best concerts I have seen. If you had read the review of last weekend's Capeman stuff in the New York Times, you would have been prepared that Simon was not the lead in this production. I thought it was great to hear others sing his songs.
Give it to Simon to not need to take the spotlight for himself but show how these particular albumns are still timeless.
So I disagree with your tame review, with the exception that Byrne did steal the show.
Posted on April 11, 2008 1:43 PM
Can't comment on the lighting the night you went (we were there on Friday), other than I can't wait for the dvd/pbs result. This is my third time around with Paul Simon live (after 40+ years of fandom), and I just don't get Jason's dissapointment with Simon's use of other artists; he has always used more exciting performance talents to showcase his real gifts - as a songwriter, arranger and "manager" of his music, way back to his partnership with Art Garfunkel.
Not that Paul isn't a great performer - it's just that he has the talent, profile and humility to realise that he can take a step back and still deliver something that is clearly and uniquely his own, even if someone else is in the spotlight.
All his guests were fantastic, and David Byrne's "spot" one of the funniest, most celebratory things I've ever seen – but Simon still stole his own show with a performance of "Cool Cool River" that almost had me ripping my shirt off (an unusual event in the mezzanine of an opera house, and one that would have done nothing for the aesthetics of the night!)
Posted on April 14, 2008 11:21 AM
In case anyone is interested, here is Saturday night's setlist with the performers (from what I can remember). Might help put an actual tally to the number of songs on which Paul actually participated.
Paul Simon, Under African Skies
04.12.08, BAM, Brooklyn
One Set:
unknown1, unknown1, Boy In the Bubble2 > unknown2, Gumboots3, Under African Skies4, Proof5, The Coast6, Cool Cool River3, Milton Nascimento song7, Spirit Voices7, Can't Run But7, Born At the Right Time8, I Know What I Know9, You Can Call Me Al10
Encore1:
Homeless11, Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes12
Encore2:
Graceland3, That Was Your Mother3
1 Ladysmith Black Mambazo
2 Ladysmith Black Mambazo, band, Vusi Mahlasela
3 Paul, band
4 Paul, band, Vusi, Kaissa, backup singers (Vanessa Jones, Tshidi Manye)
5 band, Kaissa
6 Paul, band, Kaissa
7 Paul, band, Luciana Souza
8 Paul, band, Luciana, David Byrne, Kaissa, backup
9 David, band, Kaissa, backup
10 David, band
11 Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Vusi
12 Paul, band, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Posted on April 14, 2008 5:36 PM