Jazz / Vocal, Swing, Traditional Pop
Recorded and mixed: June 27-28, July 2-4, 14, 1991, Gregg Rubin at BMG Studio A, NYC
Harry Connick Jr. - Piano, Vocals
Brad Leali - Alto Sax
Will Campbell - Alto Sax
Jerry Weldon - Tenor Sax
Ned Goold - Tenor Sax
David Schumacher - Bari Sax, Bass Clarinet, Flute
Louis Ford - Clarinet
Mark Mullins - Trombone
Craig Klein - Trombone
Lucien Barbarin - Trombone, Sousaphone
Joe Barati - Bass Trombone
Roger Ingram - Trumpet
Dan Miller - Trumpet
Leroy Jones - Trumpet
Jeremy Davenport - Trumpet
Russell Malone - Guitar
Benjamin Jonah Wolfe - Bass
Shannon Powell - Drums
George Bernard Shaw once said, "Youth is wasted on the young." Obviously, Shaw never met Harry Connick, Jr. With several Platinum albums under his belt and the world at his feet, it's sometimes hard to believe that the most celebrated swing vocalist, pianist, songwriter, and performer of the decade is only 24 years old. Fortunately, Harry Connick, Jr. still has a lot of living to do.
Harry's new Columbia album, BLUE LIGHT, RED LIGHT, produced by Tracey Freeman, follows in the wake of his most successful year yet. Two Grammy Awards, nominations for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar, a top-rated PBS special, a feature role in a hit film, and a triumphant world tour are only a few of the highlights. Yet despite all the sound and fury, the man from New Orleans still ranks music-making as his #1 pleasure.
Not only did Harry write most of the songs on BLUE LIGHT, RED LIGHT, he arranged and orchestrated most of them as well, making the new album a complete musical revelation. Joined by the tightest and brightest big band this side of Birdland, Connick consolidates his crackling wit and sumptuous melodic instincts into one show-stopping tour-de-force.
With the sizzling hot horns and spooky woodwinds of the title track, Connick establishes complete command. Songs like "A Blessing And A Curse" and "You Didn't Know Me When" sparkle with Harry's droll humor, while the ballads "Jill" and "Sonny Cried," sung with solo piano and guitar respectively, showcase Connick's warmly expressive voice and romantic elan.
Harry describes his band as "the hardest swinging musicians in the world," and it's hard to disagree hearing tracks like "With Imagination," "If I Could Give You More," and "Just Kiss Me," all of which feature smoking solos from Connick's able sidemen. Other songs like "The Last Pay Day" and "He Is... They Are" push the boundaries of swing, both musically and lyrically.
Simply Mad About The Mouse, the highly-anticipated Buena Vista Home Video and Columbia Records collection of classic Disney songs performed by contemporary stars, will also feature Harry's rendition of "Bare Necessities" from "The Jungle Book." And with the release of BLUE LIGHT, RED LIGHT, Harry is gearing up for yet another extended U.S. tour with his own orchestra. Well over a year after their release, three of his albums remain ensconced on the national pop charts, proving conclusively that Harry is one of our most popular and enduring stars.
Harry Connick, Jr., knows he's got a whole life of music ahead of him. As he sings in "With Imagination," a song on the new album, "I have a goal/To see beyond my vision/With Imagination/I'll get there." Can there really be any doubt he will? |
