Esquire Theme by Matthew Buchanan
Social icons by Tim van Damme

28

Oct

Office whiteboard artwork of “Graceland” - the song, by Paul Simon.
“There is a girl in New York City 
Who calls herself the human trampoline 
And sometimes when I’m falling, flying 
Or tumbling in turmoil I say 
‘Oh, so this is what she means’”
—
Artwork credit: John Khuu

Office whiteboard artwork of “Graceland” - the song, by Paul Simon.

“There is a girl in New York City 

Who calls herself the human trampoline 

And sometimes when I’m falling, flying 

Or tumbling in turmoil I say 

‘Oh, so this is what she means’”

Artwork credit: John Khuu

25

Mar

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
100 plays Get

Image of DJ Earworm mashup 'Brazilian Diamonds' featuring Paul Simon and Django ReinhardtFor your listening pleasure, a DJ Earworm mashup between Paul Simon and Django Reinhardt. Introducing “Brazilian Diamonds”, featuring Simon’s “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” and Reinhardt’s “Brazil”.

This incredible mashup will lead you to believe that “Diamonds” was recorded during Django’s final recording sessions in 1953 — 33 years before Graceland was released!

For more of DJ Earworm’s jazz ‘n’ pop mashups, check out his “In The Sky With Diamonds” post.

Click Play. Listen. Comment.

08

Feb

Paul Simon Will Cameo at the We Are Plastic Ono Band Concert

Plastic Ono Band LIVE + incredible special guests: Brooklyn Academy of Music, NY 16 Feb

Yoko Ono and her band, Plastic Ono Band, will headline at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in New York City. With them is an “incredible, once-in-a-lifetime line-up” of Paul Simon, Harper Simon (Paul’s son), Eric Clapton, Sean Lennon (John and Yoko’s son), Bette Midler, Justin Bond, Cornelius, Kim Gordon, Yuka Honda, Haruomi Hosono, Jim Keltner, Thurston Moore, Mark Ronson, Scissor Sisters, Klaus Voormann, and Martha Wainwright.

The “We Are Plastic Ono Band” event will take place at BAM’s Howard Gilman Opera House on February 16, 2010 - 8 PM in New York City (USA). Tickets are on-sale, at $39.90, $79.90, $89.90, and $150.00.

For more information or tickets, visit:

Did you know… that Paul Simon last performed at BAM in 2008?

In April, Simon began a month-long musical residency curating songs from his varied catalogue, and performing alongside a plethora of artists.

From April 1-6, Oscar Hernández and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra took the helm along with Claudette Sierra, Obie Bermudez, Ray De La Paz, and Paul Simon, with special guests, Little Anthony and The Imperials - under a weeklong theme of “Songs from the Capeman”.

From April 9-13, Simon ‘visited’ Graceland and ‘reached into’ Rhythm of the Saints for the “Under African Skies” evenings, and performed with Hugh Masekela, Milton Nascimento, Kaïssa, David Byrne, and Luciana Souza.

And finally from April 23-27, he performed other notable songs from his career for the “American Tunes” theme, reunited with The Roches (backup singers on his 1973 There Goes Rhymin’ Simon album), and performed with Olu Dara and Grizzly Bear.

More information available from Stereogum.

25

Apr

Interview with Veteran Recording Engineer Roy Halee on Recording Simon & Garfunkel and Others - Parts 1 & 2

Excerpt:

Roy Halee: So anyway, I do this audition for Simon and Garfunkel.

Michael Fremer: Do you remember what song it was?

Roy Halee: Song? It was the whole album, man! The whole Wednesday Morning album was the audition.

Michael Fremer: Did they know they were doing a whole album or did they think they were doing an audition?

Roy Halee: They didn’t know. They were kids with their knees knocking through their pants. So we do this thing and I remember thinking I love it. I love these guys. I love the sound of their voices. I love the blend. Coming from a classical school, I heard classical influences. These guys are not run-of-the-mill and they’re a pleasure to work with.

Links to the full interview with Roy Halee on recording with Simon and Garfunkel:

Notes: Roy Halee reflects from his initial meeting of Simon & Garfunkel and his proud accomplishments on Bridge Over Troubled Water (album) to producing solo albums for the duo. The insightful glimpses from Halee recording with Simon & Garfunkel start around page 3 of Part 1.

Source: The transcript of the interview was originally published on July 1, 2005 by Michael Fremer on musicangle.com.