Paul Simon / Costa Mesa 1991 Mike Millard Tapes / 2CDR

Paul Simon / Costa Mesa 1991 Mike Millard Tapes / 2CDR / Uxbridge

Live at Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, CA, USA, 28th September 1991

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Most of the recent releases of Mike Millard’s sound source by the JEMS team were recorded in his later years (I think the 70’s, which may still be sleeping a lot, seems to be regrettable …), and this time it is also released. It was Paul Simon’s 1991 stage.
However, speaking of 1991, Simon’s solo career was in the midst of a hugely successful world music line that began with “GRACELAND” in 1986, and the stage of the day was the previous year’s album “THE”. Audience recording document by Mirrored from the world tour that took place after the release of “RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS”.
The album also recorded a big hit next to “GRACELAND”, and as if reflecting such excitement, the excitement of the venue on this day was also tremendous. This time, the sound pressure of the performance is a little weak for the recording of Millard, but it is speculated that this may be related to the sound output that was ringing at Simon’s concert hall at that time.
However, the recording of this day also has a really attractive merit. That is, Simon’s singing voice is captured in a big way. His stage at this time was a big band on the world music line, so it may be that Simon’s concert staff had the aim of making Simon’s singing voice stand out because their sounds were squeezed together. Hmm. For that reason, the clear recording state that is typical of Millard and Simon’s singing voice go well together.

Speaking of the “THE RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS” tour, there is an official live album called “PAUL SIMON’S CONCERT IN THE PARK”, but that was the stage at Central Park in front of a large audience in an outdoor festival state. On the other hand, this one, which captures the concert held at Costa Mesa one and a half months after the big event, is a homely one and the atmosphere is completely different from the official one.
Also, I think there was a sense of relief after completing the big event that also served as Simon, and thanks to the mirrored recording, the appearance of singing in a very relaxed tone throughout the whole story is firmly transmitted.
What’s amazing is that Simon at this time had a terrific hit on his previous two albums, and the whole live was a big hit without relying on the S & G classics of yesteryear. Rather, even in the first half of the concert, such as “The Boy in the Bubble” and “Born at the Right Time”, the songs from those two albums are showing overwhelming excitement.
It must be something that Simon himself understands well. The S & G number seems to be treated as a fan service, and the laughter happening that the lyrics are mistaken in the finale “Mrs. Robinson” as if to tell it shows confidence in his solo work at that time. ..
And in the latter half of the concert after “You Can Call Me Al”, the excitement is wonderful, and the persuasive performance that seems to be the peak of his solo career is played with the backing band of a skilled musician.
Because of the existence of the official live album as before, this time it was a CD-R release from the UXBRIDGE label, but this time as well, the outstanding quality unique to Mirrored is alive and well. Moreover, I guarantee that you will fall in love with the realism of Simon’s singing voice. No longer behind the scenes, “Live in Central Park”!

ここ最近のJEMSチームによるマイク・ミラード音源の公開は彼の晩年に録音されたもが多くを占めて（まだまだ数多く眠っているであろう70年代ものが出し惜しみ気味かと…）いて、今回も公開されたのはポール・サイモン1991年のステージでした。
とはいえ91年と言えばサイモンのソロ・キャリアにおいては1986年の「GRACELAND」から始まったワールドミュージック路線で大成功を収めた絶頂期の真っ最中であり、この日のステージは前年のアルバム「THE RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS」リリース後に行われたワールド・ツアーからミラードによるオーディエンス録音ドキュメント。
そのアルバムも「GRACELAND」に次いで大ヒットを記録、そんな盛り上がりを反映したかの如く、この日の会場の盛り上がりも凄まじいものがある。今回はミラードの録音としては演奏の音圧がやや弱めですが、これは当時のサイモンのコンサート会場において鳴っていた出音の関係もあるかと推測されるもの。
とはいえこの日の録音には実に魅力的なメリットもある。それはサイモンの歌声が大きく捉えられているということ。この時代の彼のステージはワールドミュージック路線の大所帯バンドですので、彼らの音が一緒くたに鳴らされていた分、サイモンの歌声を際立たせようという狙いがサイモンのコンサートスタッフの中にあったのもしれません。それだけにミラードらしいクリアーな録音状態とサイモンの歌声の相性は抜群。

「THE RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS」ツアーと言えばオフィシャルの「PAUL SIMON’S CONCERT IN THE PARK」というライブアルバムがありますが、そちらがセントラルパークにおいて、ほとんど野外フェス状態の大観衆を前にしたステージだったのに対し、その一大イベントから一か月半後にコスタ・メサで行われたコンサートを捉えたこちらはアットホームなもので雰囲気がオフィシャルとはまるで違う。
それにサイモンとしても収録を兼ねた一大イベントをやり遂げた後の安堵感があったのでしょう、全編に渡って非常にリラックスした調子で歌いあげている様子もミラード録音のおかげでしっかり伝わってくる。
何が凄いって、この時期のサイモンは先の二枚のアルバムのヒットぶりが凄まじく、往年のS&Gクラシックに頼らなくともライブ全体が大きな盛り上がりを見せているということ。むしろ「The Boy in the Bubble」に「Born at the Right Time」など、コンサート前半だけでもそれ二枚のアルバムからの曲だけで圧倒的な盛り上がりを見せている。
それはサイモン自身がよく解っていることなのでしょう。もはやS&Gナンバーはファンサービス程度の扱いに映るほどで、それを物語るかのごとくフィナーレ「Mrs. Robinson」で歌詞を間違えるという爆笑ハプニングが却って当時の彼のソロ作品への自信を伺わせてくれるほど。
そして「You Can Call Me Al」以降のコンサート後半は緩急自在な盛り上がりが素晴らしく、ソロ・キャリアのピークらしい説得力ある演奏が腕利きミュージシャンのバックバンドと共に奏でられます。
先のようにオフィシャルのライブアルバムが存在したことが仇となって今回はUXBRIDGEレーベルからのCD-Rリリースではありますが、今回もミラードならではの卓越したクオリティは健在。なおかつサイモンの歌声のリアルさに聞き惚れてしまうこと請け合い。もはや裏「ライブ・イン・セントラルパーク」！

Disc 1 (67:03)
1. Intro.
2. The Obvious Child
3. The Boy In The Bubble
4. She Moves On
5. Kodachrome
6. Born At The Right Time
7. Train In The Distance
8. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
9. I Know What I Know
10. The Cool, Cool River
11. Bridge Over Troubled Water
12. Proof
13. Instrumental

Disc 2 (73:09)
1. The Coast
2. Graceland
3. You Can Call Me Al
4. Still Crazy After All These Years
5. Loves Me Like A Rock
6. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
7. Hearts And Bones
8. Late In The Evening
9. Gone At Last
10. America
11. The Boxer
12. Mrs. Robinson
13. The Sound Of Silence

Paul Simon – Vocal, Guitar
John Selolwane – Guitar
Ray Phiri – Guitars
Vincent Nguini – Guitar
Richard Tee – Piano, Vocals
Armand Sabal-Lecco – Bass
Steve Gadd – Drums
Cyro Baptista – Percussion
Dom Chacal – Percussion
Mingo Araujo – Percussion
Sidinho Moreira – Percussion
Tony Cedras – Accordeon, Keyboard, Guitars
Chris Botti – Trumpet
Michael Brecker – Saxophone
Reginald ‘Briz’ Brisbon – Background Vocals
The Waters – Background Vocals
Barney Rachabane – Saxophone

Uxbridge 1476