Harry Connick Jr. – Chanson du Vieux Carré – Band Arranged, orchestrated and conducted by Harry Connick Jr. – Marsalis Music

by | Feb 27, 2007 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Harry Connick Jr. – Chanson du Vieux Carré –  Band Arranged, orchestrated and conducted by Harry Connick Jr. – Marsalis Music 74946-0006-2, ****:

New Orleans singer and pianist Connick did these sparkling arrangements mostly on his tour bus while traveling the country doing gigs. He wanted to put some of his original songs about New Orleans together with traditional N.O. music and tunes that he associated with N.O.  Using the band that backed him on the road, they recorded the numbers quickly because the players were used to them. The sizeable band included many N.O. natives and featured Connick on piano.  He doesn’t do any vocals, but trumpeter Leroy Jones does just one on Bourbon Street Parade.

Four of the dozen tracks are by  Connick, and the classic ones by such as Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael and Sidney Bechet.  Connick’s arrangements are a delight – fresh and up-to-date twists on traditional-sounding tunes and originals in a similar vein. The liner notes fold open for a little map of N.O. on one side.

TrackList: Someday You’ll Be Sorry, Panama, Ash Wednesday, Chanson du vieux carré, Bourbon Street Parade, Petite fleur, Fidgety feet, Luscious, New Orleans, I Still Get Jealous, That’s a Plenty, Mardi Grass in New Orleans.

 – John Henry

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