Well, you certainly learn something new every day. As I was typing in the titles here to write about in the track-by-track, I noticed a decent amount of Mardi Gras references, and decided a little research might be good. This led me to my first day's discovery - Harry's from New Orleans! Huh, who knew. I mean, people obviously knew... but. Yeah. Okay, moving on.
So what does one of the very top selling male artists ever have to offer us this time? A live album, from Broadway. It hit #1 on the Jazz Charts. This came from recordings during a 15-day sold out run on Broadway, specifically on July 30th and 31st of 2010, at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Check it out on DVD, CD, BluRay, etc., or right here on Spotify!
"We Are In Love"kicks things off with the crowd ready to go and happy to be there. The band plays in and Harry starts up. It's a simple crooner's song of love between two people, and what I'm sure makes for a really great song live. His voice is steady as always, and gives us a nice little start to the show.
So what does one of the very top selling male artists ever have to offer us this time? A live album, from Broadway. It hit #1 on the Jazz Charts. This came from recordings during a 15-day sold out run on Broadway, specifically on July 30th and 31st of 2010, at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Check it out on DVD, CD, BluRay, etc., or right here on Spotify!
"We Are In Love"kicks things off with the crowd ready to go and happy to be there. The band plays in and Harry starts up. It's a simple crooner's song of love between two people, and what I'm sure makes for a really great song live. His voice is steady as always, and gives us a nice little start to the show.
He then launches into the classic, "The Way You Look Tonight" and captures our hearts with the easy-going jazz band arrangement. You're familiar enough with the song to enjoy it without Harry having to put much effort at all into the performance. It's just an easy one as a whole. Gorgeous in its own lyrical right, and fitting for a singer who can carry a tune.
Harry finally welcomes us into the evening at this point, thanking everyone for being there for the closing night. He did this 20 years ago at another Nederlander theatre, and is thrilled to be back to entertain this crowd. Neil Cane from St. Louis is introduced on bass as well as Arthur on the drums from Texas. The piano starts up for the next song, "Besame Mucho." This track is slated at 11:15, and one minute in, we're just getting some skat instrumental playing. At four minutes, we're hearing more of the same. It all feels improved (largely the piano - the drums and bass have pretty much found their steady beat). Around 5:20 the rest of the band, including a sax and some strings join in, and Harry's back to singing. This time, is that gorgeous Spanish melody that this song gives, and it's really quite beautiful for his voice. Songs in other languages require more emotion with the voice for total understanding, and here he's nailed that. The English almost feels flat.
Oh he kills me when he says he doesn't understand the other songs he sings in other languages - he just gets the emotion. I love and hate him for that. Anywhos, next up he talks a little about "Thou Shalt Not," a show he wrote the music for. I do love how cool he is just in speaking voice alone. "The Other Hours"is one of the songs from that show. It makes for a good song all on its own. I've never seen the show it's from, but for a song to do so, and (hopefully) also fit in with a storyline, is a nice accomplishment for a writer.
Harry finally welcomes us into the evening at this point, thanking everyone for being there for the closing night. He did this 20 years ago at another Nederlander theatre, and is thrilled to be back to entertain this crowd. Neil Cane from St. Louis is introduced on bass as well as Arthur on the drums from Texas. The piano starts up for the next song, "Besame Mucho." This track is slated at 11:15, and one minute in, we're just getting some skat instrumental playing. At four minutes, we're hearing more of the same. It all feels improved (largely the piano - the drums and bass have pretty much found their steady beat). Around 5:20 the rest of the band, including a sax and some strings join in, and Harry's back to singing. This time, is that gorgeous Spanish melody that this song gives, and it's really quite beautiful for his voice. Songs in other languages require more emotion with the voice for total understanding, and here he's nailed that. The English almost feels flat.
Oh he kills me when he says he doesn't understand the other songs he sings in other languages - he just gets the emotion. I love and hate him for that. Anywhos, next up he talks a little about "Thou Shalt Not," a show he wrote the music for. I do love how cool he is just in speaking voice alone. "The Other Hours"is one of the songs from that show. It makes for a good song all on its own. I've never seen the show it's from, but for a song to do so, and (hopefully) also fit in with a storyline, is a nice accomplishment for a writer.
"Nowhere With Love"begins again with a little light piano, this time largely accompanied by horns and far less improved. It's all still a pretty easy-going event, only building in a few select points, up until a really large full-band hit. When Harry comes in around the two minute mark, he seems to be more on top of this singing thing, lucky for us. His voice is more clear and sure of the words, almost like he go over some freight. Not saying that is or isn't the case, but it's nice to hear. The song's kind of a sad give-up on how love doesn't work out, but the mood remains a bit high. I mean, cool, acceptance.
He's never recorded this one, but wants to showcase this great string section of the back, and starts up with "How Insensitive." Don't hate me, but there are even Sinatra songs that take on this low tone that I don't necessarily enjoy. The deep voice isn't the best light for a crooner, as you want these handsome men to be light hearted, not in this sad mode.
"Come By Me"picks up the pace just a little, mostly in piano. There's some great beat playing here, really showing off a little jazz feel that I'm sure had the audience tapping their toes. The band kicks back in eventually to party with him, but the piano would have done just as nicely.Harry goes on after that to say that Guys and Dolls is the great musical, if you're going to pick one, and launches into
"My Time of Day/I've Never Been In Love Before." Some really very pretty songs from the show, if you've never (or you have) seen it. I watch a high school do this a few years ago, working as their sound mixer, and the music for these is just so pretty. Harry does it justice for sure.
He's never recorded this one, but wants to showcase this great string section of the back, and starts up with "How Insensitive." Don't hate me, but there are even Sinatra songs that take on this low tone that I don't necessarily enjoy. The deep voice isn't the best light for a crooner, as you want these handsome men to be light hearted, not in this sad mode.
"Come By Me"picks up the pace just a little, mostly in piano. There's some great beat playing here, really showing off a little jazz feel that I'm sure had the audience tapping their toes. The band kicks back in eventually to party with him, but the piano would have done just as nicely.Harry goes on after that to say that Guys and Dolls is the great musical, if you're going to pick one, and launches into
"My Time of Day/I've Never Been In Love Before." Some really very pretty songs from the show, if you've never (or you have) seen it. I watch a high school do this a few years ago, working as their sound mixer, and the music for these is just so pretty. Harry does it justice for sure.
"One of the greatest love songs" is how he introduces, appropriately, "All The Way." And for the first time, I have to say, he's absolutely got me on this one. His voice is silky and romantic in the perfect combination. It's sheer perfection for a nearly perfect love song, including the saxophone and the ending hold out note. The couples in the audience had to have been swooning over this one.
"Bayou Maharajah"shows off this most pulled together piano playing that we've heard yet in the show, with little-to-no improv. It's entirely impressive to listen to, and I bet watching his hands move on the keys this quickly and perfectly was even more so. Phew, very, very well done. Then, to cool down, I guess, Harry talks about his childhood full of jazz, crawfish, and James Booker. He remembers and enjoys it, and honors him with a song he wrote in memory: "Hear Me In The Harmony." Right away, it's got that souther blues/jazz feel only that region can seem to give. It's possibly the best song on the album. There's soul to the whole number and the lyrics are beautiful. Giving someone this song, and it does fit different situations, is just entirely sweet.
"Bayou Maharajah"shows off this most pulled together piano playing that we've heard yet in the show, with little-to-no improv. It's entirely impressive to listen to, and I bet watching his hands move on the keys this quickly and perfectly was even more so. Phew, very, very well done. Then, to cool down, I guess, Harry talks about his childhood full of jazz, crawfish, and James Booker. He remembers and enjoys it, and honors him with a song he wrote in memory: "Hear Me In The Harmony." Right away, it's got that souther blues/jazz feel only that region can seem to give. It's possibly the best song on the album. There's soul to the whole number and the lyrics are beautiful. Giving someone this song, and it does fit different situations, is just entirely sweet.
"Light The Way"lets Harry talk about Mardi Gras backed by a sweet little drumming beat. I think he does a funky walk or dance that we don't get to see. But yeah, we've hit the home portion of the show for show. This is another original one, and the percussion section is working on overtime, giving all kinds of fun sounds. The horns are the party people with the decorations from the percussion. "Take Her To The Mardi Gras" carries on the party, but focuses in on the girl. She wants to dance and enjoy the party. Think "Lady Is A Tramp" modernized and taken south for the events of the week.
"Bourbon Street Parade"lets that jazz band ply on, and the audience is fully involved at this point. Now, the party has started, and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. Well, I mean, it will soon, because there's only one more track, but you get what I mean. They're all fully in-sync now, and partying on the road. I mean, in the theatre, but you can feel like you're on Bourbon. Yah know what? Just enjoy the fun times.
We're ending with "Mardi Gras in New Orleans." He's pretty sure they're out of time, and is amazed he's made it this far, and is ready to throw it all down for this last one. He's back on piano, and away we go, pretty damn quickly. It's one more fun Mardi Gras themed song for the road.
"Bourbon Street Parade"lets that jazz band ply on, and the audience is fully involved at this point. Now, the party has started, and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. Well, I mean, it will soon, because there's only one more track, but you get what I mean. They're all fully in-sync now, and partying on the road. I mean, in the theatre, but you can feel like you're on Bourbon. Yah know what? Just enjoy the fun times.
We're ending with "Mardi Gras in New Orleans." He's pretty sure they're out of time, and is amazed he's made it this far, and is ready to throw it all down for this last one. He's back on piano, and away we go, pretty damn quickly. It's one more fun Mardi Gras themed song for the road.
Added to My Playlist:
- "All The Way"
- "Hear Me In The Harmony"
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