Harry

May 4, 2004 | Kansas City, MO

Venue: Midland Theatre
Distance Traveled: 575 miles
Performance Type: Big Band
Attended With: Julie Lambirth
Seats: Row BBB, Seats 12,13
Setlist: 

If I Were a Bell
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (Derrick Gardner solo)
I Have Dreamed (Mark Mullins solo)
Exactly Like You
You're Sensational (MM solo)
We Are In Love (John Allred solo)
St. James Infirmary (with Lucien and Leroy)
That's A Plenty
There's Always One More Time
Take Her to the Mardi Gras (1st time played in concert)
Its Good To Be Home (1st time played in concert)
My Blue Heaven
Only You (Jimmy Greene solo)
For Once In My Life
I Still Get Jealous (Jerry Weldon solo)
Bourbon Street Parade (Leroy solo/vocal, Craig solo, Harry on tamborine)
Old Rugged Cross
Come By Me
Mardi Gras encore

Photos

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Review

The concert was scheduled to start at 8pm, but I wasn't wearing a watch, so I wasn't really sure what time it was when the house lights went down and Doug Wamble came out on stage. He is a solo performer, playing the guitar and singing. He was funny and joked that people didn't need to get out their tickets, they were in fact, at the right show and that Harry would be out very shortly. Doug opened with These Foolish Things, followed by an original tune named, The Sweet Magnolia Tree. During the second song, there was movement behind the curtain to Doug's left. The audience chuckled lightly at this as I was reminded of college marching band and being behind the curtain on stage at Hancher Auditorium for Band Extravganza. We would all be sitting on stage behind the curtain while the jazz band performed out in front and we were always chastized by the stage managers to keep away from the curtain because, "a butt in the curtain looks just like a butt to the audience." Before he performed his final song, Back to the River, Doug thanked us for listening and said, "I hope ya'll stick around for the next act." I'm not always a big fan of an opening act, I'm so eager to just get to Harry and the band, but Doug was pleasant and the three songs were just the right amount. Allowed about 10 people sitting in the orchestra pit to get seated late and yet be spared Harry's humiliating comments about not being on time. Though, I do always find that entertaining. Heh. Doug left the stage, a stage hand quickly removed his stool and amp, the band started playing, the curtain came up, and we were off!

Ned was up front standing over by Art and the band played a new (to me) longer intro to If I Were A Bell and then out came Harry. My seats were second row, dead center. I was perfectly in line with Neal and Craig. The wonderful new stage setup afforded me a good view of everyone except Jerry and Leroy. Now I'll get the fashion commentary out of the way right away. Harry was wearing jeans, black shoes, and a black button down shirt. The sleeves appeared to be meant to have cufflinks, but he just had them loose, shirt was untucked, as usual, and his shirt was unbuttoned about half way down showing off a silver fleur de lis pendant on a black satin cord. His hair was good, thank goodness. No more of that crazy sticking-up all over, too much product, too straight crap that he'd had at a bunch of public appearances in the last month. Its nice and wavy like normal. Don't mess with the natural curl. Except for Art and Neal, the band was in their standard white shirt/black pants ensemble. I was actually hoping they might be wearing the lovely blue shirts they were sporting on the DVD. Of course, they could be wearing sackcloth and I'd be happy. Art was in a black shirt and pants. And then there was Neal. He was looking so good in his black suit, black shirt and had his hair pulled back in a ponytail. Looking ever so good that is, until he turned his head and I could see he was had a white ponytail holder in his hair! I was mortified! Ok, so I wasn't really, but I was highly amused by it and just wanted to fix it all night long.

After the first song, Harry told the audience that the jazz world had lost someone special because the drummer Elvin Jones had passed that day and he was dedicating tonight's show to him. [At least that's what I think he said but I've googled so much and have found nothing about his passing in the news online. So now I'm a bit confused.] Harry mentioned that Neal had played with Elvin and Art was definitely influenced by him. Harry also said he'd recently recorded with Elvin's brother, Hank Jones. [For '35', I'm guessing. Wonder when that is ever being released.] After this, the music resumed with another new-to-me-arrangement, this time of Way Down Yonder in New Orleans. It was during this song that Harry rolled up his sleeves. Love that, it means we're getting down to business. There were solos by Derrick Gardner and Sean [or is it 'Sam'? my writing is a bit scrawled] Jones on trumpet. This new guy seems to be playing the usual Roger Ingram parts of insanely high notes. I wonder where Roger is? Next came I Have Dreamed with a wonderful solo by Mark. I really enjoyed this song on the Christmas tour, glad it is back for the spring.

The beginning of the show always seems to go so fast. I can't ever decide if Harry does shorter songs at the beginning to get things moving, or if I'm just so excited that the beginning is a blur. The fourth song was Exactly Like You and gave the band a short break as Harry handled this tune solo. This is as good a place as any to mention that I really enjoyed Harry's vocal stylings this evening. He was very loose and playful with the tunes and his phrasing. Every song that'd I'd previously heard sounded different than before and I really liked how he was mixing it up. His piano solo was also a bit different than others I'd heard. It was still classic Harry, but it wasn't the really crazy, intense sound that was more the trend with the quartet. The solo had a light touch, it was very steady and concise. A great song from my favorite movie musical, High Society, was next up, You're Sensational. Harry singing this classic plus a Mark solo, what more can I ask for? Nothing, but Harry thought I needed a little more anyway and smiled and waved at me during the song. Even after all my shows, I never expect him to have a clue who I am. Despite my nuttiness about shows, I'm actually really realistic about the whole thing, he meets hundreds of people a day, I'm just another fan and that is totally fine with me. I'm truly there for the music and never cease to be amazed on the occasions when he recognizes me and I get a smile or nod. Love ya, Harry. Also during the song, while the band was playing Harry went over and picked up his water bottle all dramatically and even sang a verse still holding on to it. Love love love that song. John Allred was featured next with a wonderful trombone solo on Harry's new arrangement of his old song, We Are In Love. I had heard this new version first on the Christmas tour and everytime I hear it, I like it more and more. It is a less complex arrangment, less big band sound, but it really lets the melody and the lyrics shine through. Harry's vocals are also so much more mature than the original recording 12+ years ago and the sparser arrangment allows that to come through as well.

Then it was time to bring out the talent and the fun: Leroy and Lucien! Harry started in on St. James Infirmary and I screamed out. Man, I love that song and it is always so much fun to see the three of them perform, you just never know what is going to happen. When he got to the "she was stretched out on a long white table" line, I tossed out the Erica Senick Memorial WHOOOOO to see if he'd confirm that "she's dead!" Which he did and also commented there were people into "some strange stuff out there." Harry also decided that he needed a $100 gold piece, not just a $20 one, on his watch chain because "you know I always wear a watch chain." Yeah, because they're just so fashionable these days. Heh. Leroy and Lucien were totally cracking up. Love the banter back and forth between them. Lucien and Leroy then performed two smoking solos that left Harry declaring that he couldn't possibly follow that up and so he just played a chord on the piano and drank some water because he need to "clear the air for a minute." Harry's piano solo was in keeping with the one he had played earlier in the night, a bit more understated than I've heard before. But it was still wonderful. I enjoy seeing how many of the band members are really listening to him solo. I just love watching musicians. When Harry came back in with the last verse, he really went crazy and dramatic with the "BARTENDER! pass me another bottle of booze" line. To which he commented, "oh yeah, its the vocal technique that keeps me coming back!" He totally busted up the guys with that one.

The Leroy and Lucien goodness continued with That's a Plenty. I absolutely love the energy of this song. Leroy said "Hi, Wendy" while Lucien was soloing. He's just the sweetest guy ever. The band just tore this one up. Leroy and Lucien soloed and then Ned came down front and joined them on his alto. Yea saxes! Its always so fun to watch Neal play this number, love to see those talented fingers fly. After the fast and furious pace of That's a Plenty, we were treated to one of my all time favorite Harry-performed songs, There's Always One More Time. Harry on piano, Leroy on flugelhorn, and Lucien on the trombone; they never disappoint. Harry was still mixing things up vocally on every tune and its another one of the things I love about hearing the music live. I can listen to a CD whenver (read: daily), but its obviously always the same. I just revel in the moment and unique musical things that happen. And I'm already running out of good words. How many times can I say "love," "crazy," or "fun?" I digress.

Alright, enough music! Time for Harry's Random Stream of Consciousness Ramblings. Now here's something you just can't get on CD. Heh. He gets up from the piano and thanks us all for coming out, especially since this meant us having to miss 'American Idol' (which I watch, but didn't tape) and how that is his favorite show, AI and '24' (which I did tape, love that Kiefer!). He's got Tivo, but that's back at home with Jill and the girls and won't help him right now. He said he'd talked to Jill before the show and she wished he was home to watch tv with the family. Cute. An audience member in the front row to my right said something to the effect that they were taping it and Harry could come over and watch it. Harry jumped all over this and was asking if he could bring the band? Did they have kids? The lady was saying they had food. Harry asked if they had beer, because if he was bringing the band, they'd need beer. Especially because Lucien might come along and he's a "case a day" kind of guy. HA! In addition to the beer, they'd need some BBQ, did she know how to make BBQ? Then he started asking what kind of tv they had? Was it big enough that everyone in the room could see it or was it crappy and like 19"? She said they had a 36" tv. Harry acted impressed and asked the husband what he did to have such a nice tv and the guy said he was in purchasing. Harry was all "purchasing?" That's it? Then he did one of his many voices and was all, "Oh, I buy things." Harry kept on the guy and said, "we're all in purchasing, if we weren't, we'd be dead." HA!! Harry kept asking the guy what it was that he bought and the guy comes back with "goods and services." Everyone was laughing at the continued vagueness of this guy's job: Then Harry brought the house down with, "Goods and services? In New Orleans we call that hos and drugs!" Hysterical! He went on and on saying "goods and services" in all these suggestive ways like he was a business man in a hotel. Ridiculous! And now goods and services forever has a new meaning for me. He then goes back over to the lady and says that he'd love to come over but they have to head out of town right after the show because they have to play another show tomorrow night in, "Where are we playing tomorrow?"

To which I and some other people scattered around the venue respond: Minneapolis! Of course, this gets Harry's attention and he starts joking that "there the freaks are" and that its always just a matter of time before he figures out where they are. When he said "freaks," I actually got a bad feeling and realized I didn't want to be lumped in with a group of people anymore. I wanted to go back to just being my own person in the crowd. Anyway, Harry started then talking about connick.com and how there was this website and its like 4 people and they know everything about him. Some people were screaming behind me after he said this, I was kind of wondering exactly who they were back there, but it turned Harry's attention over my way and its at this point that he sees me again and stops and says, "Hey. Nice to see you again. How are things?" That just cracked me up. I said I was good, thanks. He continues on about how he used to read connick.com but he doesn't anymore because it freaks him out how much people know about him. Hey, Harry, join the crowd, some of those people freak me out too. But, he says, he does still check the site because they always have the most up-to-date tour schedule, even better than his offical management site, and he doesn't know how they do that. Then he says that the site is run by a really great guy, Chris Eng, and he bets Chris calls up the venues and says (in some other voice, it wasn't really Chris), "Yes, hello, this is Chris and I'm with Harry Connick, jr. and I'd like to confirm his upcoming performance." And that this is how he gets all the inside scoop. Harry was highly amused by himself, but assured the crowd, that no, Chris wouldn't do that and he's a really great guy. He was still looking my direction, so I said, "Harry" and got his attention and just said, "hey, Chris is getting married next month." And Harry was all "really? That's so great. Tell him congratulations." Then he paused and said, "and tell him I've got some goods and services for him." HA!!

Then it was back to the music. They were going to perform two songs from his broadway show, 'Thou Shalt Not' (insert appropriate lament about the show's early demise here.) Woo! I love the TSN songs and was hoping he'd arrange a few for the big band someday. They started with Take Her to the Mardi Gras. Holy complex arrangement, Batman! It sounded so difficult. There were a few minor rough spots, but I can't imagine that more than a few people knew the songs and had enough musical background to even notice. Harry only messed up a few words, which is impressive because, dizam, that song has a lot of very fast words. I realized I knew the words better than I realized when I heard him say "3rd ward" and I knew it was supposed to be "9th ward." But I love when he messes up stuff, it makes everything that much more real. It was great, but when the song finished I saw Craig and Mark look at each other and laugh as if to say, "well, that was fun and thank god we made it through." Or maybe that's just the look I used to exchange with people back in my band days. *chuckle* Then being the perfectionist and his own worst critic, he announces that that was the first time they'd ever performed that song, having just read it in rehersal that afternoon and that over all he thought it was about a "7" and that he had a weak solo. Oh stop Harry. It wasn't perfect, but it will be in a few more days. I really hope that the new songs stay in the setlists. Continuing with new stuff from TSN, next up was It's Good to Be Home which I also really enjoyed. Its great to have heard the songs with the broadway cast on CD, live with the quartet, and now live with the big band. I'm glad Harry is still pursuing these songs because they are great.

Harry's Random Stream of Counciousness Ramblings, Round 2: He then started talking about how the last song was about things from NOLA but he thought the Kansas City crowd would understand a lot of it, like cooking with pork fat and other stuff. Then he mentioned something about possum which reminded him of something that had happened to him recently. He was at his dad's house in NOLA and they were going to go fishing and he didn't have the right shoes with him to go out and get wet and he didn't want to get all wet since he needs to be singing. So he goes to get some old shoes he has in a closet at his dad's. He hasn't had these shoes out in a long time, boots actually. He pulls them out of the closet and shakes them real good, knocks them together to get all the dust and dirt and whatnot off and out of them. He sits down to put one on and gets his foot mostly in and it feels like a bunched up sock. He reaches in and feels soft fur and freaks out and shakes them again and out falls a mouse! The poor little guy (my words, not Harry's) fell out and was all messed up because he'd been squished by Harry's foot. Harry was stumbling around the stage impersonating the dazed mouse. He then proceeds to tell us all not to tell anyone, but that he is totally "freaked out by mice." Anything that has to gnaw on things to keep its teeth from growing too long bothers him. HA! He's apparently relayed this story before because now his bus driver keeps calling him "his little mouseketter" and Harry is just sure he's going to put a mouse in his bed or something. So funny! Harry said, "I told him I'd kill him. I'm serious!" So we were to know that if in the upcoming weeks we see something in the newspaper about "musician Harry Connick, Jr. arrested for murder" then we'll know what happened.

Switching channels in his brain, he then goes back to ranting about 'American Idol.' He wanted to know what was up with that John guy (the red head) and why everyone "keeps comparing him to me?!!" He was clearly amused yet disturbed by this fact. But then he said, "no, John's fine, fine but WEAK!" He likes Fantasia but was making fun of her name. Fantasia Burrino? "Sounds like a meal, 'Yes, I'd like a Fantasia Burrino and a Diet Coke.'" Harry is just all about AI and says that he knows people always wonder how would he do on the show and that he wonders too. Said that now not a night goes by when he's performing that he doesn't think for a moment or two, "what would Paula, Randy, and Simon say?" HA! "Just think of all the people that wouldn't win," he said, "think about Springsteen or Dylan. Think about Dylan having to sing 'Sexual Healing.'" He then proceeds to start singing "Sexual healing" like Bob Dylan might. OMG! That was so ridiculous! The crowd was just howling and so was the band. Then he continued as Dylan and tried a little "Let's Stay Together." Harry thought Jon Peter Lewis (JPL) looked dirty, like he needed to shower or something. [at this point my notes become completely unreadable, I was laughing too hard.]

Moving from AI to his other favorite show '24', he said he'd met Dennis Haybert, who plays President Palmer on '24' at an Oscar Party this past February. Harry assured us he had absolutely no reason to be at that party but that sometimes he's a "media whore" and goes out to see who he can see. But assured us that he wasn't as bad as J-Lo who is at absolutely every media event even though she has nothing to do with most of the stuff. Back to Dennis Haybert, Harry said he was so excited to meet him that the situation made him feel like "very very young girl." Then he did an impersonation of Dennis with a really low voice (pretty good actually) telling Harry that he liked his music and hoped they could work together someday. Jill was with him and he said she was swooning for Dennis. That it was a mistake to introduce your wife to men like that. Which then reminded him that he recently met Antonio Banderas [at the Queen Mary event a month or so ago, I think] and there was someone not to have your wife around, that it was a big mistake. He went on about how amazingly good looking Antonio Banderas was and assured us that he was happily heterosexual but that Antonio was so handsome that he "wanted to kiss that man on the mouth!" You just can't make this stuff up!

It was at the same event that he met Donald Trump and that Trump causes you to be in kind of a transient state. Harry said he is about 6'2" and weighs about 215 and Trump is basically the same height but he's about 230. Harry said he was standing only about a foot away from The Donald and he could not see at all where his hair started and where it ended! Said he was staring right at his hair because he wanted to be able to tell us all about it! Apparently there are two things Harry gets asked about Trump: "Is he nice?" and "What about the hair?" Harry declared it was the 8th wonder of the world. He said he really wanted to ask Trump, "'Hey, give me $100 grand.' Because you know its nothing to him." Harry said he'd also recently met Richard Branson and he's one of those crazy billionaire types and he bet "he'd lay the cash on me."

[At this point, I lost the ability to write legibly and all I can read is "Sean & Mark (Braud) could hold hands." So whatever that means, I'm sure it was ridiculously funny at the time. Its pretty funny on its own even now.]

Then it was time to get back to the music and play some songs from the new album. First was My Blue Heaven which was great after Harry and Art had a quick discussion about whose version of a downbeat they were going to go with. Heh. Unlike on the album, Only You, these songs are being performed without strings. Plans to have string players along on the tour changed and I must say I was very pleased. I like OY, but I need more big band baby! So Harry has written parts for the band to fill in the string parts now. Same arrangements, just different instruments. Its great. Jimmy Greene was featured when they performed Only You. I will forever and always have a special place in my heart for tenor sax players and Jimmy is masterful. I love how Jimmy, Jerry, and Ned all have really different sounds and that I can actually pick out who's playing without specifically knowing. Harry replaced the string intro to For Once in My Life with just piano and it really works. I also like that he's kicked the tempo up on this song a few notches.

Alright, enough new album stuff, back to the good stuff you can only get in concert: I Love Jerry Weldon and I Still Get Jealous is ALL about Jerry Weldon. Man, can that guy play the tenor. Jerry was actually the first member of the big band I ever really noticed and learned his name and got excited about seeing on stage. [Who would've thought I'd ever be concerned with the trombone players? Wonders never cease.] Speaking of trombone players, Craig was featured on the next song, Bourbon Street Parade along with Leroy's vocals and trumpet. Everybody now: Way down yonder in New Orleans! Harry and Craig make such cute backup singers. Harry showed off his percussive talents by busting out the tamborine for the rest of the song. The crowd was completely into the song, they were ready to follow Harry anywhere. So from high tempo Harry grabbed the audience and took them to church for Old Rugged Cross. I've rambled on for a couple thousand words by now and none of them can start to describe this arrangement and the power of this song. Its just one of the top musical moments of all time in my life everytime I get to hear it. It simply must be experienced to be understood.

Harry then launched into a long piano intro that led into Come By Me. Ah Come By Me, now that Christmas is over, its back in the bittersweet place as the closer. One of the most fun songs ever but I always half hate to hear it since it means the show is almost over. Dave Schumacher did his now customary big bari solo at the very end. Much love for the bari sax. He was going to town, it turned into a little bit of Its Good to Be Home with the trio for a minute, which was very cool. Harry was just yelling and encouraging Dave to go on. So go on Dave did, much to Harry's delight. Harry was standing behind his piano bench and he leaned over and grabbed his towel and threw it at Dave. Unfortunately for Mike Karn, the towel didn't make it all the way to Dave and hit him in the face instead. This only spurred Harry on. He stepped from the floor to his piano bench, to the piano keys *CHORD*, to the top of the piano and walked over and grabbed Neal's towel and threw it too. As Harry grabbed for Neal's towel, Neal quickly grabbed his bow off the piano and held on to it, probably fearing Harry would throw anything within arm's reach that wasn't tied down. At least Harry didn't throw his shoes this time. And then it was over. Harry ended the song standing on the piano flashing Nixon-style peace signs as the curtain fell. Ridiculous. He remained generally ridiculous for the MG encore. Actually got the crwod to stay standing during the end. How people sit down during that song is completely beyond me. How joyless do you have to be to be unaffected by that music? I was happily dancing in my space. Craig gave me a "now you behave" finger wag as the song started. *chuckle* Come on, Craig, I'm always good! Then the curtain fell for the final time as Harry did some more Nixon, a little Elvis-style pointing, and a last-minute 'Charlie's Angels' style finger-gun pose with a bonus stuck out tongue. Julie and Johnny G both had wonderful times. Johnny said he wasn't sure which was more entertaining; watching Harry & the band or watching me in my seat. Always glad I can be entertaining. I took that comment better than the random man behind me that asked if I worked in "goods & services" for the band! Excuse me?!

Overall, a truly wonderful show. They just get better and better. I'm past saying one show was better than another. I can't compare them individually, its more a collective feeling of the shows over days, weeks, or months. I can maybe compare tours, and the 2004 tour is off to a fabulous start! Afterwards, saw Leroy, Craig, John Allred, Mark, Neal, and (with a little help from a friend) Harry.

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