2008 Spring Season

Paul Simon: Songs fromThe Capeman

BAM 2008 Spring Season is sponsored by Bloomberg.

Leadership support for Songs from The Capeman is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Visa Signature is a major sponsor for Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon.

Songs from The Capeman opening night reception will feature beer by Stella. Floral décor provided by Fleurs Bella.

BAM Harvey TheaterApr 1—6 at 8pm

Produced by BAM

Oscar Hernández and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Featuring performances by Claudette Sierra, Obie Bermudez, Steve Conte, Luba Mason, Jorge Maldonado, Nicole Lequerica, Danny Rivera, Ray De La Paz, Frankie Negrón, Paul Simon

Special guest performance by Little Anthony & The Imperials

Staging by Megan WilliamsLighting by Roderick MurraySound design by Elias SotomayorMusical advisor Phil RamoneStage manager Erica SchwartzAssistant stage manager Sarah FordProduction assistant Sean ThorneCostume consultant Kate Patterson

Brooklyn Academy of Music

Alan H. Fishman Chairman of the Board

Karen Brooks Hopkins President

William I. Campbell Vice Chairman of the Board

Joseph V. Melillo Executive Producer

presents

Who’s Who

Performers: LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS Featured vocalists:Ray De La Paz Nicole Lequerica Claudette Sierra Luba Mason Steve Conte Jorge Maldonado Obie Bermudez Frankie Negrón Danny Rivera

Doo-wop singers:Edwin Cornell McKnight Myrna Lynn Gomila Kelli Sae Gilberto Velaquez Ariacne Trujillo Eddie Rosado Luis Cruz Alkebulan George Lamond

SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA Oscar HernándezEdgardo Miranda Cuatro Nelson Gonzalez Tres Paul Livant Guitar Mitchell Frohman Sax/Flute George Delgado Percussion Luis Quintero Percussion Robby Ameen Drums Pete Nater Trumpet Daniel Reagan Trombone Bob Franceschini Sax/Flute Arturo Ortiz Keyboards Hector Colon Trumpet Gordon Titcomb Pedal Steel Bernie Minoso Bass Marco Bermudez back-up singer William Torres back-up singer

Producer Chris Wangro

Phot

o of

Pau

l Sim

on b

y M

ark

Selig

er

Paul Simon

Dear BAM Audience,June of 1999 was an important transitional moment for BAM. Harvey

Lichtenstein, BAM’s president for 32 years, was retiring, and we were jointly succeeding him as president and executive producer, respectively. Harvey was going out with a big bang, and we were producing a huge gala to honor the occasion. Dan Klores, BAM Board member and longtime friend of Paul Simon, asked Paul to consider performing at the event. He agreed, we were thrilled, and a relationship was born. From the first moment Paul stepped on our stage, we knew he was a BAM artist: courageous, pioneering, and deeply heartfelt, with a massive creative output incorporating an extraordinary variety of musical styles and influences.

Paul has created albums rooted in Brazilian, South African, and Latin styles. He has incorporated American musical styles including doo-wop, jazz, gospel, and rock & roll in his songs. He has composed for large bands, performed solo on acoustic guitar, and written scores for both theater and film. The poetry of his lyrics matches the beauty of his songwriting.

And so, for nearly ten years we’ve been discussing how Paul Simon and BAM could work together. The opportunity finally arose this past fall when another Board member, Charles Diker, strongly advocated that BAM get more involved with popular music presentations. With the Board’s support and our own long-standing goal of producing a Paul Simon project, we decided to present a new style of singer-songwriter “portrait.” Rather than mount a one-night tribute, which has become the standard formula for recognizing a popular music icon, we thought it would be more interesting to honor Paul’s enormous body of work through a month-long residency.

During the month of April, BAM audiences will have a rare chance to truly immerse themselves in Paul’s music and to experience the depth of this New York City artist’s talent. We welcome you to join us as we forge a new way of celebrating an incredible musical journey 40 years in the making.

— Karen & Joe

Karen Brooks Hopkins is BAM’s President, and Joseph V. Melillo is BAM’sExecutive Producer.

LOVE IN HARD TIMES: THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON

Paul Simon: Songs from The Capeman Apr 1—6

Paul Simon: Under African Skies Apr 9—13 Apr 9: BAM Spring Gala

Paul Simon: American Tunes Apr 23—27

BAMcinématek will screen The Graduate (1967) on April 12 at 9:15pm, directed by Mike Nichols, with soundtrack by Paul Simon, performed by Simon & Garfunkel.

A BAMtalk will be held on May 5 at 7pm in the BAM Harvey Theater, featuring Paul Simon in coversation with composer Philip Glass.

Paul Simon—DiscographyPaul Simon

1965 The Paul Simon Songbook

1972 Paul Simon

1973 There Goes Rhymin’ Simon

1974 Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin’

1975 Still Crazy After All These Years

1980 One Trick Pony

1983 Hearts and Bones

1986 Graceland

1990 The Rhythm of the Saints

1991 Paul Simon’s Concert in the Park

1997 Songs from The Capeman

2000 You’re the One

2006 Surprise

Simon and Garfunkel

1964 Wednesday Morning, 3AM

1966 Sound of Silence

1966 Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

1968 Bookends

1970 Bridge Over Troubled Water

Who’s WhoPaul Simon, during his distinguished career, has been the recipient of many honors and awards including twelve Grammy Awards, three of which (Bridge Over Troubled Water, Still Crazy After All These Years, and Graceland) were albums of the year. In 2003 he was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his work as half of the duo Simon and Garfunkel. He is an inductee of The Songwriters Hall of Fame and is in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame both as a member of Simon and Garfunkel and as a solo artist. His song “Mrs. Robinson” from the motion picture The Graduate was named in the top ten of The American Film Institute’s 100 Years 100 Songs. He was a recipient of The Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and was named as one of Time Magazine’s “100 People Who Shape Our World” in 2006. Of Simon’s many concert appearances he is most fond of the two concerts in Central Park in New York (with his partner and childhood friend Art Garfunkel in 1981 and as a solo artist in 1991) and the series of shows he did at the invitation of Nelson Mandela in South Africa: the first American artist to perform in post-apartheid South Africa. Paul Simon’s philanthropic work includes the co-founding of The Children’s Health Fund with Dr. Irwin Redlener. The CHF donates and staffs mobile medical vans that bring health care to poor and indigent children in urban and rural locations around the United States. In the 20 years since its inception it has provided over 1,500,000 doctor/patient visits. In the wake of Hurricanes

Andrew and Katrina it was the primary health care source for those communities decimated by the storms. Simon has also raised millions of dollars for worthy causes as varied as AMFAR, The Nature Conservancy, The Fund for Imprisoned Children In South Africa and Autism Speaks. In 1989 The United Negro College Fund honored him with its Frederick D. Patterson Award. On May 23, 2007, Simon was the recipient of the first annual Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Obie Bermudez, born in the mountain town of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, moved to the farmlands of Vineland, NJ with his family before his teens. Music actually wasn’t his first passion, it was poetry. He learned guitar from his father, a big Beatles fan, while also being influenced by his mother’s lively salsa sounds. Soon, he brought his two loves of words and music together, recording a demo in 1996 that led to an international label deal and the release of his debut album Locales two years later. Though he received some acclaim, that first album didn’t make him an overnight star; Bermudez chose to step back from his career and took a job at a laundromat in the South Bronx, where his life and those of customers and co-workers inspired the songs that would fill his second album, Confesiones, released by EMI International in 2004. The album’s lead single “Antes” topped Latin charts worldwide and led to Confesiones receiving multiple Latin Grammy nominations.

Who’s WhoBermudez next followed with the award-winning album, Todo El Año, which further established the young artist as a leader among Latin music’s new generation of singer-songwriters by garnering three nominations and taking home the Latin Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Album. Steve Conte is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarist, and recording artist based in NYC. As a sideman Conte has worked with Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Willy DeVille, Maceo Parker, Peter Wolf, David Johansen, Billy Squier, Phoebe Snow, John Waite, Chuck Berry, Willie Nile, and Japanese composer Yoko Kanno, among others. Currently, Conte plays guitar, sings backup and writes songs with the legendary New York Dolls, taking over for the late Johnny Thun-ders. Influenced by British rock, Philly soul, AM radio pop, Bob Dylan, and Simon and Garfunkel, Conte wrote and recorded his first “album” in the family living room at age ten. By his early teens he was earning partial keep playing behind his jazz vocalist mom at local venues. Eventually his desire to enhance his musicianship and guitar playing led him to study jazz at Rutgers University with pros like Kenny Barron and Ted Dunbar. Since 1990 Conte has released more than a dozen albums on major and independent labels with his own bands, The Contes, Company of Wolves, and Crown Jewels. His music is heard regularly on radio, network television programs, and feature films throughout the world. thecontes.com | myspace.com/steveconterocks

Ray De La Paz has been singing for over 30 years and has travelled extensively around the world, taking his music and talent wherever dancers rule. He started singing at a young age and it was then that his mother convinced him to take vocal lessons. He has sung chorus with many great vocalists of the salsa world. De La Paz had sung in many commercials for well known companies in the advertising industry and has been a member of Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists for many years. Fluent in both Spanish and English, he is equally adept singing in both languages. Among many achievements he has received, De La Paz has won an Ace award, two Gold records, and has recorded with the best in salsa music, including the Ray Barreto Orchestra, Guarare, and Louie Ramirez. In addition to being recognized as one of the elite singers on these albums, he has also received a Platinum CD and

a 2004 Grammy award with Spanish Harlem Orchestra, where he plays an important part as one of the Orchestra’s lead vocalists.

Oscar Hernández has long been considered one of the most gifted and prominent pianist/arrangers on the contemporary music scene. Since its inception in the early 1980s, Hernández has been responsible for charting the musical course of the Rubén Blades Band; the Bronx native has also produced such artists as Daniel Ponce, Rafael Dejesus, Eddie Torres, Phil Hernandez, and Steve Kroon. He has made a more personal statement with the CDs Decision and Alternate Roots (with his band Seis Del Solar), and now The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, whose three CDs have garnered three Grammy nominations and a Grammy win. Hernández has also enjoyed a prolific musical career recording and performing with such world-renowned artists as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Julio Iglesias, Juan Luis Guerra, Ray Barreto, Earl Klugh, Dave Valentin, Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Miranda, Pete “Conde” Rodríquez, Oscar De’leon, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Libre, Grupo Folkorico Experimental, Willie Colón, and more. As musical director/conductor, Hernández arranged and produced the music for Paul Simon’s The Capeman. His other Broadway credits include Quien Mato a Hector Lavoe, La Lupe, Four Guys Named José & Una Mujer Named Maria, and Mambo Kings. Hernández’s work as a studio session player can also be heard on numerous commercial jingles, some of which he has written and arranged. Among those are the hit show Sex and the City theme song, Dunkin Donuts, Waldbaums, General Motors, Cover Girl, and more.

Nicole Lequerica has shared her melodic and multifaceted vocal talents to various audiences of all genres. This 23-year old emerging vocalist and songwriter grew up in Wayne, NJ, where she was involved and recognized in numerous national competitions and featured performances. This led her to perform and receive soloist achievement awards from a variety of organizations such as NJPAC. Lequerica is a recent graduate of the prestigious jazz music program of William Paterson University. There, she studied and performed alongside renowned talents such as Mulgrew Miller, Nancy Marano, Rich de Rosa, Clark Terry, Chico Mendoza, Marcus McLaurine, Harold Mabern, and the late James Williams. She has performed at various venues

Who’s Whoin the tri-state area such as NYC’s legendary Latin club, The Copacabana, the infamous jazz club Sweet Rhythm, the Rainbow Room, and she collaborated with the great Danny Rivera. Lequerica was also the featured opening act for many jazz legends such as Joe Lovano, Clark Terry, and Kevin Mahogany at the distinguished Jazz Room Series. She has shared her talents worldwide in such areas as Puerto Rico, her family’s native island. Lequerica is currently working on solo projects, uniting the sounds of R&B, jazz, and Latin music.

Jorge Maldonado, born in Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras) came to Brooklyn at age six. He was influenced by many genres—Puerto Rican jibaro/country, rock and roll, symphonic Mexican music (mariachi). Since the early 70s, Maldo-nado has performed with top names in the Latin music industry. Beginning with Cuba’s La Sonora Matancera, with whom Maldonado would record eleven songs, including two world-wide hits, “Fiesta” and “Mala Mujer.” It was here, while traveling with the band, that he would polish his skills alongside Celia Cruz. Maldonado would go on to countless appearances and recordings with some of the most gifted musical intellects of our times. He also recorded and produced two CDs of his own, En Su Mejor Momento and Jorge Maldonado. His versatility is extraordinary, with salsa, charanga, big band, or Boleros; with Louie Ramirez, to “Charanga” America, to The Fania All Stars, or Maldonado’s duet performance with Bette Midler. Maldonado comes full circle as co-vocal collaborator with Ray Viera for the legendary maestro Johnny Pacheco . Luba Mason performed in Paul Simon’s original Broadway production of The Capeman and is pleased to be reprising her role here at BAM. A veteran of the Broadway stage, Luba starred as Velma Kelly in Chicago, Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde, Hedy LaRue in How to Succeed in Business..., Trevor Nunn’s Sunset Boulevard, and The Will Rogers Follies directed by Tommy Tune. Mason was guest vocalist on Ruben Blades’ 2002 Grammy-winning album Mundo which led her to record her own debut album Collage. Signed to the PS Classics label, she spent the last year touring her Collage show in major cities across the country. Most recently, she completed recording her second upcoming CD, Krazy Love, “a cool, Brazilian based album” featuring original songs penned by Mason. On television, she guest

starred with Jeff Goldblum in last season’s series Raines, as well as Law & Order, NYPD Blue, One Life to Live, and All My Children.

Frankie Negrón emerged to fuse the sentiment of tropical music with his vibrant personality and his musical experiences in America a few years ago, when the tropical music movement—especially salsa—was represented primarily by its old-school founders, and as younger audiences sought other musical genres. He draws on contemporary pop and his upbringing in Newark, NJ, as well as his Puerto Rican heritage to create a unique sound, which includes an electrifying salsa groove. Negrón was sixteen years old and singing in a doo-wop group in Jersey City when he met Paul Simon. He made original demos for doo-wop songs for The Capeman and was in the original company for the Broadway run. Since his first recording a decade ago, Negrón’s audience has grown to include his original fans as well as new listeners. His recordings have sold millions of copies worlwide, to both Spanish and English-language markets. He has four Platinum Record awards, one Gold Record, and Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations. His eighth and current production, Mejor Que Nunca (Better Than Ever) has won praise from fans and critics.

Danny Rivera is considered Puerto Rico’s national voice. His 40-year career in the music industry surpasses his musical legacy. Paral-lel to his musical career Rivera has devoted a lifetime of commitment to social causes, and has worked on behalf of the poor, oppressed, children’s welfare and the under-represented. Rivera has recorded over 60 albums, which run the gamut from traditional to popular ballad. His records have gone gold three times, silver four times, and received numerous Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations. Rivera established the organization Borinquen Vive, whose purpose is to disseminate and preserve Puerto Rican Culture. It includes the publishing house Makarios; Sonido Verde, a state-of-the-art recording studio; and Dissar Productions and DissarTV, which produce specials and events, as well as Rivera’s weekly television show De Pura Cepa. He recently joined Pregones Theater in the South Bronx to star in the original musical production The Red Rose, based on the life and times of the pioneering Puerto Rican immigrant and social activist Jesús Colón. Rivera lives in Puerto Rico and travels extensively throughout Latin America and New York. He is

Who’s Whoa singer, poet, and pacifist whose career has touched the lives of thousands of people, and has sealed his reputation as a man of just cause and one of the most gifted voices of Latin music.

Claudette Sierra, a New York native of Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage, has credits reading like a “Who’s Who” of contemporary Latino culture. She has performed and recorded with Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Ruben Blades, Marc Anthony, and Jennifer Lopez to name a few. She has appeared in theatrical productions including: Quien Mato a Hector Lavoe, Latin Sol, and Paul Simon’s Broadway production, The Capeman. Sierra has performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Avery Fisher Hall, and other popular venues featuring Latin and jazz music here and abroad. But it was while singing at New York’s famed Rainbow Room that she developed the unique approach to American and Latin Standards that has set her apart as an artist, bridging the gaps between traditional and contemporary Latin music, American and Latin music. She appears on countless recordings as a background singer and guest artist and in 2006 released her first solo album about time, a bilingual mix of originals with American and Latin standards. Sierra maintains a busy performance schedule while planning for a new record. She feels privileged to be a part of the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s celebration of Paul Simon’s music.

Little Anthony & The ImperialsWINS radio DJ Alan Freed announced, “here’s a new record that’s making a lot of noise... Little Anthony & The Imperials... singing ‘Tears On My Pillow’...”. The nickname caught on and the group became Little Anthony & The Imperials. This iconic group from Brooklyn celebrates its 50th anniversary. Anthony Gourdine, originally with The Duponts, joined The Chesters, a group founded by Clarence Collins. In 1958 they were signed to a contract and named The Imperials. Their first record, “Tears on My Pillow”—and the flip side, “Two People In The World”—became one of the most popular double-sided ballad re-cords in vocal group history. Between 1960 and 1965 the group recorded additional Top Forty hits including “Goin Out Of My Head,” “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop,” “I’m On The Outside Looking In,” “Hurt So Bad,” “I Miss You So,” and “Take Me Back.” The group’s members, which

had not performed together for over seventeen years, reunited in 1992 and appeared at Rich-ard Nader’s Rock and Roll Revival concert at Madison Square Garden. They have since enjoyed sold-out appearances throughout the US, been honored as recipients of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award, and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Museum.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra, since its debut CD Un Gran Día en el Barrio in 2000, Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO) has established itself as a standard bearer of contemporary Latin music. Directed by world-renowned pianist, arranger, and producer Oscar Hernández, the thirteen-member all-star ensemble has reintroduced the classic sounds of New York City salsa to music lovers worldwide. With its 2002 debut album, Un Gran Día en el Barrio, SHO revived the classic 1970 NYC sounds with a new hard hitting point of view. It launched the band and garnered them a 2003 Grammy nomination for Best Salsa Album and a Latin Billboard Award for Salsa Album of the Year—Best New Group. Their slamming 2004 follow-up, Across 110th St. included special guest Ruben Blades. It won the group its first Grammy Award in 2005 for Best Salsa Album. SHO’s most recent album, United We Swing, continues in the same classic-meets-contemporary sound, but with refreshing originality. Nine of the songs are original compositions grounded in the unique identity the band has forged based on the musical legacy of El Barrio, a pulsating eastside community in NYC that gave rise to Boogaloo, Latin Soul, and salsa. “Our music style is the original sound of New York old school ‘Salsa dura’ (heavy salsa) that was played in the early years by our pioneers,” says Hernández. “That sound has been lost and we want to keep it alive while educating the new generations (and music lovers in general) on the true musical roots of our culture.”

Phil Ramone (musical advisor) is one of the most respected music producers in the recording industry, with 33 Grammy nominations, four-teen Grammy Awards, an Emmy, and numerous honors and accolades to his credit. He has also played an integral role in pioneering many of the technological developments in the music industry over the years some of which are docu-mented in his book Makind Records. Ramone’s impeccable list of credits includes collaborations

Who’s Whowith such diverse artists as Tony Bennett, Bono, Ray Charles, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Liza Minnelli, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Sting, and Barbra Streisand. He remains a champion of music educational programs and serves as a Trustee of the National Academy of Popular Music and the National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. Ramone is a founding member of META (The Music & Engineering Technology Alliance), an elite group of producers and engineers facilitating the establishment of high-quality music record-ing and delivery by uniting audio professionals, consumer electronics manufacturers, music enthusiasts, and technology providers.

Erica Schwartz (stage manager) is delighted to be back at Brooklyn Academy of Music, where she worked on Frida; Noa Ain’s The Outcast; The Flies with Ilya Kabakov and David Dorfman; and Robert Wilson’s Alice. Broadway credits include Movin’ Out (workshop), The Goat, The Ride Down Mt. Morgan, Bells Are Ringing, Twelfth Night, and assistant stage manager for Wicked, Fosse, and Candide. She worked with Twyla Tharp at The Kennedy Center, and Off-Broadway: at The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, and The Vineyard Theater, and regional productions at Seattle Rep, Fifth Avenue Theater, and American Music Theater Festival. Love to sons Isaiah, Raphael, Elijah, and husband Nick.

Megan Williams (staging) hails from Los Angeles and is a graduate of The Juilliard School. From 1988—97 she was a member of the Mark Morris Dance Group with whom she performed and taught worldwide and appears in the dance films Dido and Aeneas, Falling Down Stairs (with Yo Yo Ma), and The Hard Nut (for PBS’ Dance in America). She is currently creating the role of Lady Capulet in Morris’ new production of Romeo and Juliet: Motifs on Shakespeare. She was assistant director/choreographer to Morris on the original Broadway production of Paul Simon’s The Capeman and served as the production’s understudy rehearsal director. She has staged Mark Morris’ work on the Boston Ballet, Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre, George Mason University, and the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase College where she has been a professor since 1999. Her own choreography as a solo artist has recently been produced by DancenowNYC at Joe’s Pub and Dance Theatre

Workshop. Thanks to Paul; love to Andy, Bram, and Griffin.

Roderick Murray’s (lighting design) lighting designs have been seen nationally and internationally since 1992 on the works of Kimberly Bartosik, Benjamin Millepied, Ralph Lemon, Wally Cardona, American Ballet Theater, Le Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Yanira Castro, Luca Veggetti, Sekou Sundiata, Andonis Fiondakis, Paradigm Dance, Dušan Týnek, Scotty Heron, Pepatián, Hot Mouth, Donna Uchizono, Ricochet Dance, Risa Jaroslow and Dancers, Bill Young and Dancers, Kriota Willburg, among many others. He received a 2001 Bessie Award for his work for Wally Cardona’s Trance Territory. Prior to dedicating himself full time to design, he performed for nine years with the award winning Circus Amok. He is inspired by his beautiful wife and their incredible baby daughter.

Chris Wangro (producer) appropriately began as a ring master for an international traveling circus. A few adventures later he was appointed NYC’s Director of Special Events for Parks, responsible for literally thousands of events and was made the city’s producer for the three largest concerts ever held (including Paul Simon’s Concert in the Park). Moving on, he became a sought-after impresario of public spectacle, creating all man-ner of organized chaos for everyone from James Brown to Pope John Paul II. He shut down the Brooklyn Bridge for Mick Jagger, closed Times Square repeatedly, and opened New York City streets and parks for more cultural events than anyone of his generation. His work has included classical concerts in the White House, rock shows in muddy fields and cultural expositions for foreign governments. Throughout, he has dedicated himself to projects focusing on social justice. He produced the Presidents’ Summit on America’s Future, which raised over $100 million for programs targeting at-risk youth. He created the UN’s 25th commemoration of AIDS, and has worked in places as disparate as Bali and Palestine on cultural programs focusing on peace and reconciliation. During the 2004 RNC, he developed the Imagine Festival, the largest political arts festival in America’s history for which the Obies created a special citation. Currently Wangro is launching an innovative firm utilizing bio-fuel technology to transform the industry of live events.