Released four years after the fact (the younger Connick is now 34), the
New Orleans’ District Attorney’s favorite son has released another of his
bi-decade birthday albums. As with 20 and 25, Connick has chosen a
selection of standards, along with three of his personal musical heroes
with whom to perform them. Opening with a rollicking player piano take on
Fats Domino’s "I’m Walkin’," Connick pounds through an arrangement of
"Chattanooga Choo Choo" which occasionally jumps the track.
"Somewhere My Love" is similarly erratic, as if the master acetate (am I
dating myself?) was being turned on a worn out mechanism. Connick’s
solo piano on "The Gypsy" is spare and slight, allowing the story to pour
through.
The first of Connick’s three guests – bassist Ben Wolfe – reunites
with his first rhythm partner and takes his bassy bows on Frank Loesser’s
"If I Were a Bell." In fact, Wolfe’s melodic soloing is most of the piece, with
Connick comping gingerly in back for at least the first half. The late Rev.
James Moore offers up additional soul to the Bayoud Brill Building blues
of "There is Always One More Time." The album closes with fellow Wilkins
manage-ee Wynton Marsalis taking most of the instrumental honors for
the Cahn/Van Heusen chestnut "I Only Miss Her (When I Think of Her)."
Among these well chosen guest spots are a Delta drag through Hoagy
Carmichael’s "New Orleans" which makes ths Crescent City sound to be
much less fun than Connick has painted it in the past, a foot stomping
ride through Porter’s "Don’t Fence Me In," and a bouncy take on "Speak
Softly Love" that even Corleone couldn’t refuse. Though a bit shaky in his
old age, Connick is aging well.
Harry Connick, Jr. at All About Jazz.
Visit Harry Connick, Jr. on the web.
Track listing: 1. I'm Walkin'
2. Chattanooga Choo Choo
3. Somewhere My Love
4. The Gypsy
5. If I Were A Bell
6. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
7. Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree
8. There Is Always One More Time
9. New Orleans
10. Speak Softly Love
11. Junco Partner
12. Don't Fence Me In
13. Don't Like Goodbyes
14. I'll Only Miss Her (When I Think Of Her
Style: Vocal
Published: January 20, 2003
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Released four years after the fact (the younger Connick is now 34), the
New Orleans’ District Attorney’s favorite son has released another of his
bi-decade birthday albums. As with 20 and 25, Connick has chosen a
selection of standards, along with three of his personal musical heroes
with whom to perform them. Opening with a rollicking player piano take on
Fats Domino’s "I’m Walkin’," Connick pounds through an arrangement of
"Chattanooga Choo Choo" which occasionally jumps the track.
"Somewhere My Love" is similarly erratic, as if the master acetate (am I
dating myself?) was being turned on a worn out mechanism. Connick’s
solo piano on "The Gypsy" is spare and slight, allowing the story to pour
through.
