Paul Simon Helps Singer With ‘Outdated Mates’ Whereas Engaged on New LP

Paul Simon has been engaged on an album of recent materials at New York’s Reservoir Studios, however that’s not the one music he lent a hand with there this week. In accordance with a Fb put up from cabaret singer Barbara Fasano, Simon, 80, guided her on a rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Outdated Mates” that was already in progress earlier than she realized the rock legend was rolling tape in the identical constructing.

“We had laid down 4 tracks and have been about to report ‘Outdated Mates,’ so how might I resist?,” wrote Fasano, an everyday at New York jazz golf equipment equivalent to Birdland. “Round 4:00, there was Mr. Simon having lunch within the communal kitchen. I launched myself and stated I used to be sorry to interrupt, however we have been truly about to report his tune. His face lit up and he was on his ft, strolling into our studio. Everybody obtained launched and Paul Simon pulled out his guitar and coached us on voicings and instrumentation. In a loopy surreal second, he started to play ‘Outdated Mates’ on the identical guitar he’s been taking part in on his solo information for 50 years, whereas I sang alongside. He stayed with us for practically an hour. After which we laid down ‘Outdated Mates,’ now sprinkled with pixie mud by this American icon.”

Simon’s new album is provisionally titled The Seven Psalms, the inspiration for which apparently got here to him in a dream, in response to his conversations with Malcolm Gladwell as a part of the Miracle and Surprise audiobook sequence. A spokesperson for Simon tells SPIN there’s no launch date for or extra details about the challenge as of but.

It is going to be Simon’s first album of recent materials since 2016’s Stranger to Stranger. Two years later, Simon re-recorded 10 album tracks from his solo discography for Within the Blue Mild, which featured classical- and jazz-leaning musicians equivalent to Invoice Frisell, The Nationwide’s Bryce Dessner, Wynton Marsalis and the ensemble yMusic.

Simon retired from touring in 2018 however continues to make occasional dwell appearances, together with his first efficiency on the Newport People Competition final month in Newport, R.I.