[Dixielandjazz] Harry Connick Jr. reviewed

[Robert Ringwald]

Harry Connick Jr. reviewed

Harry Connick Jr. Shows Playful, Humorous Side in Memphis
by Mark Jordan
Memphis Commercial Appeal, February 28, 2010
Almost two weeks late, perhaps, but Memphis celebrated Mardi Gras -- and the New
Orleans Saints' Super Bowl win over the Indianapolis Colts -- on Saturday night as
Big Easy jazz singer and pianist Harry Connick, Jr. performed before a crowd of 2,000
at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts.
A child prodigy who played his first New Orleans gig at age 6, Connick is a Crescent
City jazz man through and through, having studied with some of the city's most esteemed
pine-top professors, including James Booker and Ellis Marsalis. But since exploding
on the scene in the late '80s -- largely through his efforts on the "When Harry Met
Sally" soundtrack -- he has been best known as a big band balladeer in the mode of
Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.
It was this side that fans heard first Saturday as Connick took the stage with his
14-piece band -- including a six-piece string section -- to croon a few lush but
by-the-numbers romantic songs, including "The Way You look Tonight," "Smile" and
"Mona Lisa," all of which are featured on his latest CD release, "Your Songs."
But as the night progressed and Connick loosened up a bit, a more playful, more musically
precocious side -- a side weaned on hot jazz dates in dark Bourbon Street bars --
began to emerge. The transition started when Connick finally stepped behind his grand
piano to pounded out a solo rendition of King Oliver's "Doctor Jazz," his pounding
foot on the pedals driving home the beat. Later he drew in his drummer and bass player
on the standard "Bésame Mucho," which Connick sung in Spanish and English.
But Connick's New Orleans side really came to full bloom toward the middle of the
set, when he brought out special guest Lucien Barbarin, a trombone player with New
Orleans' famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The two showed a great chemistry as they
clowned their way through such Big Easy party staples as "A Kiss To Build A Dream
On," "Bourbon Street Parade" and "Go To the Mardi Gras," on which the two men were
literally shaking their booties.
In fact, such stage antics were as often as not at the fore this night. Also an accomplished
film and television actor with an easy, off-the-cuff charm, Connick proved himself
to be as talented an entertainer as he is a singer and pianist. At times the show
seemed like a one-man Rat Pack concert, with Connick jokingly harassing audience
members as they wandered in late, complimenting Cannon Center manager Pierre Landaiche
on "his" theater (the Cannon Center is owned by the city), and venturing out into
the audience where he sang the opening verse of "Second Time Around" before rushing
back on stage to finish the song.
(Despite his promise to the contrary, it's hard to imagine the music program -- a
relatively stingy 90 minutes plus encore and no opening act -- wasn't impacted by
all the comedy and talking, though no audience grumbling was heard.)
At one point Connick shared a story about a package he had received backstage from
a New Orleans resident and audience member, Shannon Holliday, crediting him with
helping her appreciation of New Orleans and its culture. "I love you like you love
Drew Brees," Holliday closed the letter, leaving Connick to wonder whether that same
love for his hometown would be on display at his next tour stop -- Indianapolis.


--Bob Ringwald K6YBV
rsr at ringwald.com
Fulton Street Jazz Band
916/806-9551

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