Paul Simon: Live at Webster Hall, New York

(Hartford, CT – Sept. 9, 2011) – In June 2011, Paul Simon thrilled his hometown fans with a special club performance at New York City’s historic Webster Hall. The show was the culmination of a sold-out, two-month US tour about which the New York Times raved “Salvation pursued musically.” The resulting concert special, PAUL SIMON: LIVE AT WEBSTER HALL, NEW YORK, gets its world premiere on Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) on Wednesday, September 14 at 8 p.m.

The set list was drawn from Simon’s legendary career and includes several songs that haven’t been performed live in many years. Kodachrome, Mother and Child Reunion, Gone At Last and The Obvious Child are just some of the highlights as well as songs from Simon’s recently released, brilliant new album So Beautiful or So What (Hear Music /Concord Music Group), including Dazzling Blue, The Afterlife and the album’s propulsive title track.

Joining Paul on the show is a stellar band of musicians including Cameroonian guitarist Vincent Nguini, guitarist/drummer Jim Oblon, pianist Mick Rossi, saxophonist/keyboardist Andrew Snitzer, bassist Bakithi Kumalo, guitarist Mark Stewart, master percussionist Jamey Haddad and multi-instrumentalist Tony Cedras.

Paul Simon, the first recipient of the Library of Congress’ “George Gershwin Award for Popular Song” in 2007, is one of the most treasured musical performers in American history. CPTV is proud to be the first PBS station in the country to broadcast this incredible musical event from this iconic artist who continues to work at the peak of his artistic and creative powers.

About Connecticut Public Television

CPTV is a media service of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network. It is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming, including
UConn Women’s Basketball, original documentaries and educational programming. CPTV has built a reputation as a leader in children’s programming, including playing an historic role in bringing Barney & Friends™, Bob the Builder™ and Thomas & Friends™ to public television. The station offers 11 hours of positive, nurturing children’s programs each weekday, reaching 50,000 to 70,000 households daily. The Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CBPN) also includes WNPR. WNPR is an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media. WNPR serves almost 240,000 listeners weekly in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island with news and information. Its award-winning local programming includes The Faith Middleton Show and Where We Live. Overall, the network brings a broad spectrum of public affairs, entertainment, sports and educational programming to viewers, listeners and readers. For more information, visit cptv.org.

PAUL SIMON: LIVE AT WEBSTER HALL, NEW YORK
Director: Martyn Atkins
Producer: James Pluta
Mobile Audio Recording: John Harris
Audio Mixers: Andy Smith, Phil Ramone
For more information on Paul Simon, please contact:

Joel Amsterdam – Hear Music/Concord Music Group joel.amsterdam@concordmusicgroup.com 310-385-4206

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDxQr-s26t8

Paul Simon’s Set:

The Sound of Silence
Mrs. Robinson
Slip Slidin’ Away
Here Comes the Sun
Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard
The Boxer (with Joan Baez)

During a rehearsal on Wednesday, Paul Simon, the headliner for the reopening celebration on Friday night, said: “I’ve performed here many times and it was always fun, but I was overwhelmed to see how beautiful it is now.

“It’s a great house with a great vibe and its funkiness matched the music in a way,” he added. “But it’s nicer to have clean seats.”

There are a handful of musicians performing in New York this weekend who have a connection to Simon. Marc Anthony, star of the Capeman, is at Madison Square Garden on Saturday; C.J. Chenier, son of Clifton Chenier (name-checked in “That Was Your Mother”), is at Connolly’s on Sunday; and Vusi Mahlasela, who performed in the “Under African Skies” shows as part of “Love in Hard Times” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music last April, is at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday.

Are other surprises in store for the two-night stand? Surely, Simon must have something up his sleeve for those of us who will only be in town for the Saturday night kicker, right?

In typically frustrating fashion, the TicketMaster website will only reveal that the American Express pre-sale runs from this Sunday, January 25, at 9 a.m. until Saturday, January 31, at 10 p.m. (EST). While it’s not entirely evident, it appears that there is no pre-sale password to track down, but tickets might be reserved for those who pay with an American Express card. No word on whether the billing address must be in the U.S.

Regardless, these pre-sales have a habit of featuring mostly lousy tickets – or they feature so few tickets that the good ones disappear in seconds. The public on-sale is a week later, Sunday, February 1st (though at 10 a.m. EST).

Good luck!

Simon played three memorable shows to wrap up his 2000 tour supporting You’re The One at the Beacon in December 2000.

Details:
The Beacon Theatre
www.paulsimon.com
Tickets