Harry Connick Jr @ Montreal Jazz Festival‏

Andre Menard, founder of the 'Montreal Jazz Festival', as
well as 'Planète Jazz 91.9 FM', the premier FM radio station
for serious Jazz Aficionados in Montreal, quietly strolls
onto the stage and announces, to the filled-to-capacity,
Salle Wilfrid Pelletier at Place des Arts, that in a few
minutes we will be making history. Harry Connick, Jr, has
decided to record a DVD for this celebrated event and we
should be made aware.

Then added, "If you're good and he's good."

Several minutes later, the lights come on and the curtains
began their ascension, while the band, of over 8 musicians
begin to play. The audience stands and an uproar of claps
and cheers ensues, but no Harry. "Is that Harry Connick,
at the upright base?" A woman next to me was heard saying.

After that first set, he walks out non-chalantly, just as
quiet and sits at one of the pianos, he has three on stage.
This is the beautiful, black-lacquered Grand, turns slightly
to his right, to face the audience, and says, "This song
symbolizes the resilient, magical music capital, New Orleans."
Which is his hometown and proceeds to play. Following several
songs, stands and begins to interact with the audience, made
up of mostly 40 to 60 years old, and talks about coming to
Montreal, since the inception of the festival, in the early
80s'.
He's also a raconteur, and proceeds to tell a story about
being somewhat related to Quebeckers. He's got some French-
Canadian blood in him; his great-grandmother was originally
from Quebec City.
'My New Orleans Tour' is an homage from native son Harry
Connick, Jr, and marks his return to the Big Band format à
la Connick, with taste, imagination and passion. 'Yes We Can',
together with 'Oh, My Nola' are two new releases that double
as love letters to the Crescent City. Endearing long ode to
his hometown of New Orleans and the bright spirit of her people.
Harry Connick has done, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many
testimonials to the city that he left at 18, but has never
left him.

"The thing about New Orleanians is that they just kind of
pick up and move on, and that's what we're doing. The albums
are a great celebration of the musical influences that I had
there."

As for the city's musical legacy, it's as ingrained as his
light Big Easy drawl.

"All my formative years were spent down there," he has said,
whose father was the city's long-time district attorney, and
his mother was a judge in small-claims court. But it was music,
not the law that beckoned Harry, who developed his skills at
the New Orleans Centre for Creative Arts under the tutelage
of jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis and boogie-woogie master James
Booker, whom he wrote, in honor of, and plays a song, he
dedicates to. Connick's first public performance came at age
5, a version of The Star-Spangled Banner that enlivened his
father's swearing-in. By 9, Harry had his union card and regular
gigs on Bourbon St., and a year later made his first record
with Dixieland jazz musicians, five and six decades, older
than he was.

An accomplished musicians, arranger and composer. He's also
an actor, which is either the reason for being so personable
and extroverted, a real showman. Or that he's an actor because
of those character traits. The show consists of an impressive
collection of classic songs associated with the city, and also
features four original compositions. Including the moving song
"All These People", written after Harry visited New Orleans,
two days following Katrina, when much of the city, including
his family's house, was still underwater. He will also be donating
a portion of his royalties to the New Orleans Habitat Musicians'
Village to provide refuge for over 300 displaced musicians.


* Reviewed June 30, 2007