Pitchfork

Photos by Kathryn Yu

An eclectic collection of music-makers took over the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House last night to pay tribute to a very worthy cause: the music of Paul Simon.

The first of five nights of "Paul Simon: American Songs" found Grizzly Bear taking on "Graceland" and "Mother and Child Reunion", long-running sister act the Roches doing "Cecilia", Gillian Welch tackling "The Sound of Silence", and ace jazz cornetist Olu Dara interpreting "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "Still Crazy After All These Years", plus Simon renditions by Josh Groban and Amos Lee.

Simon himself was there of course, joining the Roches for "The Only Living Boy in New York", teaming with Groban for "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and treating showgoers to "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", "Mrs. Robinson", and more.

"American Songs" continues at the Howard Gilman Opera House through April 27.

PAUL SIMON with GILLIAN WELCH




GRIZZLY BEAR




PAUL SIMON with THE ROCHES


PAUL SIMON with JOSH GROBAN


EVERYONE



PAUL SIMON






THE ROCHES




AMOS LEE


JOSH GROBAN


OLU DARA




Grizzly Bear:

04-24 Brooklyn, NY - Howard Gilman Opera House ("Paul Simon: American Tunes") *
04-25 Brooklyn, NY - Howard Gilman Opera House ("Paul Simon: American Tunes") *
04-26 Brooklyn, NY - Howard Gilman Opera House ("Paul Simon: American Tunes") *
04-27 Brooklyn, NY - Howard Gilman Opera House ("Paul Simon: American Tunes") *
08-01 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
08-03 Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center #
08-04 Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center #
08-06 Montreal, Quebec - Parc Jean-Drapeau #
08-08 Jersey City, NJ - Liberty State Park (All Points West Festival)
08-12 Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center #
08-13 Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center #
08-15 Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheatre #

* with Paul Simon, the Roches, Amos Lee, Gillian Welch, Josh Groban, Olu Dara
# with Radiohead