“For a month, fans and potential customers of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival have been eyeing a big “artist TBA” on the schedule New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. That TBA has now been announced by the festival: the surprise act for the first of Jazz Fest’s two weekends, on April 24, will be the reunited Simon and Garfunkel. It’s not the first time that Paul Simon has played Jazz Fest, but it will be Art Garfunkel’s first time there, and this is to be Simon and Garfunkel’s only American appearance in 2010. Simon and Garfunkel fans have been awaiting news of unions shows in the United States since Mr. Garfunkel joined Mr. Simon onstage at the Beacon Theater in New York last February. The festival, now in its 41st year, will also feature, among many others, Lionel Richie, My Morning Jacket, Dr. John, Darius Rucker and Drake in its first weekend (April 23 to 25), and Pearl Jam, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, B.B. King, the Neville Brothers and Widespread Panic in its second (April 29 to May 2).”

—
Source: New York Times, ArtsBeat Blog, January 13, 2010; posting by Ben Sisario.

The Jazz Fest takes place annually in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana (USA) during the last weekend of April and first weekend of May. The festival traditionally features local acts, but has broadened to include nationally known acts.
More information about the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is available at their Web site.

A fan by the name of “Rich” wrote up an insightful review of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert - Day One. His full review is available in the comments section at: http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/10/30/rock-hall-fame-concert-springsteen-wonder-simon-garfunkel-csn/

Below is an excerpt of his review for the Paul Simon and Simon & Garfunkel portion of the concert:

“Paul Simon opens the 1st set quietly by himself with “Diamonds On The Soles Of His Shoes”. The band eventually joins him in a rocking finish. There are lot of people on the stage performing with Paul.

Paul performs his classic Queens centric song “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard”. Mucho fun! Love how Paul whistles the solo during that song.

“You Can Call Me Al” is next. No Chevy Chase though. Remember, their duo from Saturday Night Live?

Paul brings out Dion Dimucci from Bronx’s own Dion and The Belmonts. He leads Paul in a rousing version of “The Wanderer”. Remember, the great movie that featured it in it’s soundtrack. The alto sax is figures prominently in this song. A big picture of Dion And The Belmonts in the day is overhead.. Dion calls out to audience “Yo” “Yo” a bunch of times.

Paul Simon dedicates the next song to the founder of big rock benefit concerts George Harrison. In this very venue George in 1971 raised money during The Concert Of Bangladesh. With Graham Nash and David Crosby on back up vocals, Paul sings “Here Comes The Sun”. Simply beautiful!

With a full horn section Paul rocks out “Late In The Evening”. Dance able!

Paul invites Doo Wop pioneers Little Anthony and the Imperials to croon “Two People in The World”. Sweet voices and harmonies.

Art Garfunkel takes the stage to “The Sounds of Silence”. The audience is pretty stoked. Some nearby woman are crying. “Mrs. Robinson” into Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” back into “Mrs. Robinson”. Joe Dimaggio lyrics elicit applause. Meanwhile the Yankees are losing 1-0 in the World Series as the song is being performed.

The first notes of “The Boxer” begin. Amazing! What great songwriters, and performers these two are! Harmony’s are us. Beautiful. Art Garfunkels voice is an American treasure.

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” with it’s signature piano quietly woos the audience. The garden is euphoric. Truly remarkable performance.

“Cecilia” concludes a blow me away set. Still the second half of the show to look forward too!”

—

Thank you to “Rich” for his comprehensive setlist review of the show.