Live(ish) at SpragueLand Episode 22 * Peter Sprague Plays The Music of Paul Simon

Angels In the Architecture
Peter Sprague Plays The Music of Paul Simon

I’ve been a huge fan of Paul Simon’s music ever since I first heard the opening chord sequence of “Scarborough Fair” and the way the vocals start expanding into majestic counterpoint. All the way from there, 20 years later, we arrive at a situation where a man’s contemplating why he’s soft in the middle when the rest of his life is so hard. He sings “I can call you Betty and Betty, when you call me, you can call me Al.”

Paul Simon’s lyrics are something special to behold. I heard him talk about his process and one of the stages involved bouncing a ball against a wall and going over and over the words and phrases until they were just right—never settling for a cheap rhyme or solution. It shows, these are big league stories and big league lyrics.

Next you add the melody and the chord moves which are a steep step up from three chord justice. Yet when he was into the Graceland album and the African influence he embraced three chords as if that’s all that mattered.

Versatile fellow and I think it’s time to celebrate his creations through our jazz lens.

For this livestream concert we’ve got Allison Adams Tucker lined up to sing vocals along with Tripp Sprague on sax and flute, Justin Grinnell on bass, Duncan Moore on drums, and me on guitar. Also our vid switcher Steve Grant will make a special appearance.

Some of the songs that we’ll play include “Cecilia,” “Hearts and Bones,” “Sound of Silence,” and “You Can Call Me Al.” As we like to do, we’ll add our own jazz angle into the blend for a unique sonic experience.

Here’s to seeing angels in the architecture spinning into infinity!

Peter Sprague — guitar
Allison Adams Tucker – vocals
Tripp Sprague — sax and piano
Justin Grinnell — bass
Duncan Moore — drums

Price of admission? Actually the concert is free but we will have a “virtual tip jar” complete with PayPal, Zelle and Venmo info for you to donate whatever you feel good about. Also, old reliable snail mailing checks works too. You folks have been super generous with this and it makes us happy.

Paypal: petersprague@sbcglobal.net
(It’ll show up as Satyam Music, that’s my music company)
Venmo: @PeterSprague
Zelle: Peter Sprague peter@petersprague.com
mail checks via snail mail to: Peter Sprague
311 East Glaucus St.
Encinitas, CA 92024