Theater News

Josh Groban, Luba Mason, et al. Added to Paul Simon Concerts at BAM

Josh Groban
Josh Groban

Josh Groban, Gillian Welch, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Vusi Mahlasela, Luba Mason, Danny Rivera, Jorge Maldonado, Steve Conte, and Frankie Negrón have been added to the list of singers who will perform in The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon in April, a group of three concerts featuring the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter. The series will include one show devoted to songs from his short-lived Broadway musical The Capeman.

Songs from The Capeman, to be presented April 1-6 at the Harvey Theater, will feature Mason, Rivera, Maldonado, Conte, Negrón, and the previously announced Oscar Hernández and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Claudette Sierra Obie Bermudez, Ray de la Paz, and Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Under African Skies, to be presented April 9-13 at the Howard Gilman Opera House, rekindles Simon’s passion for the rhythms of South Africa and Brazil represented in the Grammy Award-winning albums Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints. Simon will be joined by Mambazo, Mahlasela, and the previously announced Brazilian singer/songwriter Milton Nascimento, Cameroonian vocalist Kaïssa, singer David Byrne, Brazilian songstress Luciana Souza, and world renowned Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista. His band will include Jay Ashby (trombone), Anthony Cedras (keys & accordion), Steve Gadd (drums), Jamey Haddad (percussion), Jim Hynes (trumpet), Bakithi Kumalo (bass), Vincent Nguini (guitar), and Andrew Snitzer (saxophone). Due to health issues, the previously announced Hugh Masekela will no longer perform.

For American Tunes, to be presented April 23-27 at the Opera House, Simon will be joined by Groban, Welch, and the previously announced American bluesman Olu Dara, Brooklyn-based band Grizzly Bear, and the harmonic trio The Roches.

In addition, there will be A BAMtalk featuring Paul Simon in conversation with Philip Glass on May 5 at 7pm.

For tickets and information, call 718-636-4100 or visit www.bam.org.