The first of Simon's two concerts in his native Queens, the conclusion of the singer's North American tour, took on an added resonance when he mused to The New York Times in an interview this week that he may be nearing retirement. With nearly 60 years of music to choose from, Simon's heart — and much of his song selection — seemed to be in the period of multicultural exploration from his "Graceland" album on. The album was praised by critics and, somewhat surprisingly in a youth-obsessed industry, also has proven to be a commercial success. Simon's nine-piece band skillfully navigated the swath of musical territory Simon explores in his music, from Africa to Brazil to Peru to New Orleans to Memphis and, of course, to New York.