Elly Roberts reviews
Harry Connick Jr: Harry For The Holidays
Distributed by
Columbia (Sony Music)
- Cat.no: 5147852
- Released: November 2004
- Rating: 2/10
Twelve years ago I went to see Harry Connick Jr in concert at the Carling
Apollo in Manchester.
Principally, because I love the big band sound. Connick has released some superb
Jazz-Swing albums in his time.
In concert he is band leader, pianist, drummer, song and danceman. He was simply
sensational. However, this release doesn’t work. Doing a covers album is fine
by me, and four originals, (he had a crack at one in 1993 - When My Heart
Finds Christmas) but this one smacks of over working the standards.
Typically, the production is meticulous; it’s the arrangements that let it down.
You get that feeling straight from the start with an over zealous Frosty The
Snowman as it bounces along in an haphazard way. He does an ample job of
killing some great songs, in particular, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(who can forget Bruce Springsteen’s definitive version), George Benson’s Nature
Boy, with Little Town Of Bethlehem being a total disaster. Unusually
for me, I find it very grating, and the Crimbo feel-good factor is virtually
missing.
Ones that do work are: ballads Blue Christmas, and I’ll Be Home For
Christmas. Only standout track is I’m Gonna Be The First One.
Ill-conceived and badly-executed by one of the best in the business.
The full list of tracks included are :
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008.
