Paul Simon: Songs from The Capeman BAM Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St) Apr 1-6 at 8pm Tickets: $30, 50, 65

Paul Simon: Under African Skies
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave)
Apr 9* at 7pm
Apr 10-13 at 8pm
Tickets: $45, 60, 75, 95
*BAM Spring Gala: For information and tickets, contact BAM Patron Services at 718.636.4182

Paul Simon: American Tunes
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave)
Apr 23-27 at 8pm
Tickets: $45, 60, 75, 95

Produced by BAM
Chris Wangro, Producer

Tickets to Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon can be purchased via BAM.org or 718.636.4100. A limited number of preferred seat locations for Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon are available to Visa Signature cardholders. To order tickets, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100 or BAM.org/visa.

Brooklyn, NY/January 29, 2008--BAM presents Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon, three unique engagements --all part of a series celebrating and exploring the music and lyrics of Paul Simon. Inspired by locales ranging from the Mississipi Delta to the townships of Johannesburg, the extraordinary music of Paul Simon will be part of BAM's Spring 2008 season in April. The three programs include Songs from The Capeman, Under African Skies, and American Tunes and will include performers such as Oscar Hernández and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Claudette Sierra, Obie Bermudez, Ray de la Paz, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Hugh Masekela, Milton Nascimento, Kaïssa, David Byrne, Luciana Souza, Cyro Baptista,Olu Dara, Grizzly Bear, The Roches, and others including Paul Simon. Phil Ramone is the musical advisor for Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon.

"We are so pleased that Paul agreed to let us do this series. He is a true New York City and BAM artist--courageous, pioneering, and deeply heartfelt. His unique storytelling through music has touched the world. There is an elegance to his music," commented BAM Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo. BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins added, "Paul Simon's vast body of work over 40 years warranted a new kind of retrospective. BAM wanted to give audiences over an extended period of time the opportunity to experience the totality of his talent and contribution to popular music."

Tickets for the Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon engagements go on sale Feb 11 (Feb 4 for Friends of BAM and Visa Signature cardholders). For ticket information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100 or order online at BAM.org.

The first event of the series, Songs from The Capeman, (April 1-6), will be a concert staging of the 1998 Broadway show The Capeman that includes the doo-wop, rock and roll, and Latin rhythms of a special New York musical era. The music of The Capeman was written by Paul Simon with lyrics by Paul Simon and Derek Walcott. The Capeman is based on the life of Salvador Agrón, a Puerto Rican teenager convicted of murder in 1959. Grammy-nominated Oscar Hernández and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Latin Jazz vocalist and original Capeman cast member Claudette Sierra, Latin Grammy-winning artist Obie Bermudez, Salsa and Jazz singer Ray de la Paz, and Paul Simon are confirmed to appear with more artists to be announced. This engagement will also feature a special appearance by Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Under African Skies (April 9-13) rekindles Paul's passion for the rhythms of South Africa and Brazil represented in the Grammy Award-winning, critically acclaimed albums Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints. Simon will be joined by South African trumpeter and composer Hugh Masekela, Brazilian singer/songwriter Milton Nascimento, Cameroonian vocalist Kaïssa, David Byrne, Brazilian songstress Luciana Souza, and world renowned Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista. Simon's 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). Many of which were members of his original Graceland band. Mark Stewart will be the musical director for Under African Skies.

American Tunes (April 23-27) will be a revisit to the quiet railway stations, urban sounds, and immigrant dreams covering a wide range of songs throughout Paul Simon's brilliant career. American bluesman Olu Dara, Brooklyn-based indie band Grizzly Bear, and harmonic trio The Roches and others to be announced will all be performing along with Paul Simon.