Simon and Garfunkel’s music has often shattered the sound of silence in Central Park over the years.
Last night, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel watched more than 30 musicians interpret their songbook during the season-opening gala celebrating the 25th-anniversary season of the Central Park SummerStage music festival.
It was a decidedly more intimate affair than the duo’s historic 1981 free Central Park concert, which drew more than half a million fans to the Great Lawn. Like that ’81 gig, the SummerStage special featured many of the same songs — from the goofy “feeling groovy” of “The 59th Street Bridge Song” to the calm of the folk tune “April Come She Will.”
The best part of a very good show was the ensemble version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
While Simon and Garfunkel didn’t turn rumor into reality by singing, they were listening from the audience.
Paul never said a word, but took a bow from his seat.
Garfunkel, who’s had vocal problems this spring (causing him to cancel a couple of solo gigs), with Mayor Bloomberg at his side before the concert, said, “I’m tickled and delighted at this honor.”
Even though the legendary pair decided not to play, this was still a top-notch concert, with 30 artists paired up to perform 17 classics.
The show’s opening song, “We’ve Got a Groovy Thing Going On,” featured folk-rockers Dar Williams & Stephen Kellogg.
The way the songs flipped among folk, pop, reggae and soulful gospel showed off how stylistically adaptable Simon and Garfunkel music is.
Marc Cohn and Jonatha Brooke funked up “Sound of Silence,” while Shawn Colvin & Paula Cole gave the tune “America” goose-bump-raising harmonies.
It was all an evening of pretty, heartfelt music that fit the Central Park setting.