CONNICK JR, HARRY

Everything I have done revolves around the New Orleans experience, confesses Harry Connick, Jr., Now Orleans native and heir to that city's incomparable musical legacy.  Until now, people the world over have known - and loved - Harry for his brilliant take on swing, jazz, and big band music.  But with the release of his latest album, SHE, Harry exits 57th Street and cruises directly down to Bourbon Street. Produced by Tracey Freeman, with music by Harry and lyrics by Ramsey McLean, SHE marks the first time Harry Connick, Jr., has recorded an album of pure New Orleans music.  Accompanied by his newly-formed funk band, Harry explores a mind-boggling variety of styles on the album, from funky rockin' instrumentals to hushed ballads to esoteric recitations.  Yet every song lies within the framework of the rootsy New Orleans style that comes so naturally to Harry Connick, Jr. Electric guitars and a pop feel may seem atypical of Connick, but the artist himself knows otherwise.  "This is music I've played my whole life," says Harry, "and I thought now was as good a time as any to make an album."  From the opening track, it's clear Connick set out to have fun, and songs like "Here Comes The Big Parade," the rapturous "She," "That Party," and the wry "To Love The Language" embody a boisterous spirit. "(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name," the album's first single, grooves with a full horn section, while "Trouble" is a sly spare dialogue between Harry on vocals and piano with the congas.  Ballads like "Honestly Now (Safety's Just Danger…Out of Place)" ratchet down the mood, while the instrumentals, "Funky Dunky" and "Joe Slam and the Spaceship" prove raucous enough for a Mardi Gras parade.  Harry closes the album by playing every instrument on the song "Booker", a tribute to one of his first piano teachers, the late New Orleans piano genius, James Booker.

Estimated despatch 5-10 days after ordering.