Harry for the Holidays [Enhanced CD]

by Harry Connick Jr.

Overview

Ten years after his first holiday-themed album, When My Heart Finds Christmas, pianist/vocalist Harry Connick, Jr. found the spirit again with Harry for the Holidays. Still centered on Connick's vocals, this foray into "tinsel tunes" is more jazz oriented than his 1993 release and allows for his growth as a performer, arranger, and conductor. Like a Brooks Brothers' suit worn at Mardi Gras, Connick's writing for his big band and full orchestra mixes New Orleans rhythms with crisp, swinging arrangements that call to mind '60s Michel Legrand and Quincy Jones. Nothing Connick has done before can quite prepare you for the screaming trumpets and rollicking second-line-style swing of his leadoff take on "Frosty the Snowman." In fact, most of the classic standards here, including "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Silver Bells," get highly unexpected treatments as on "Santa Clause Is Coming to Town," which is worked up into a funky, brass-band "go-go" dance number. Similarly tasty is "I'll Be Home for Christmas," which not only features some of the best crooning the Will and Grace star has ever done, but also a beautifully modest Count Basie-inspired piano solo. There is also an appealing balance to Harry for the Holidays between songs of Christmas nostalgia and heartfelt ruminations on what the season means in a deeper sense. Throw in four original compositions that touch on Scott Walker-esque orchestrated pop, Tin Pan Alley songcraft, and country -- yes, that is the George Jones dueting with Connick on "Nothin' New for the New Year" -- and not only do you have one of the best holiday albums in years, but easily the best album of Connick's career. [Harry for the Holidays was also released in an Enhanced Edition.]

Product Details

Release Date:	10/28/2003
Label:	Sbme Special Mkts.
UPC:	0887254262022
catalogNumber:	542620

Tracks

1. Frosty the Snowman
2. Blue Christmas
3. The Christmas Waltz
4. I Wonder as I Wander
5. Silver Bells
6. Mary's Little Boy Child
7. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
8. The Happy Elf
9. I'll Be Home for Christmas
10. I Come with Love
11. Nature Boy
12. O Little Town of Bethlehem
13. I'm Gonna Be the First One
14. This Christmas
15. Nothin' New for New Year
16. Silent Night
17. [CD-ROM Track]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Harry Connick   Primary Artist,Bass,Piano,Conductor,Drums,Vocals
George Jones   Vocals
Trenora Parker   Choir Director
Joe Barati   Bass Trombone
Lucien Barbarin   Trombone
George Doering   Guitar
Paul Franklin   Pedal Steel Guitar
Derrick Gardner   Trumpet
Roger Ingram   Trumpet
Leroy Jones   Trumpet,Soloist
Craig Klein   Trombone,Soloist
Joe Magnarelli   Trumpet
Leo Nocentelli   Guitar
Biff Watson   Guitar
Jerry Weldon   Tenor Saxophone,Soloist
Mark Mullins   Trombone,Soloist
John Allred   Trombone
David Schumacher   Baritone Saxophone
Ajay Mallory   Snare Drums
Arthur Latin   Drums
Charles "Ned" Goold   Alto Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone,Soloist
Neal Caine   Bass
Jimmy Greene   Alto Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone,Soloist
Phil Frazier   Tuba,Soloist
Mike Karn   Tenor Saxophone
Keith Frazier   Bass Drums
Lucien Frazier   Trombone,Soloist
James Greene   Alto Saxophone

Technical Credits

John Jacob Niles   Composer
Harry Connick   Arranger,Composer,Orchestration
Donny Hathaway   Composer
Buck Ram   Composer
Franz Gruber   Composer
Sammy Cahn   Composer
J. Fred Coots   Composer
Ray Evans   Composer
Tracey Freeman   Producer
Kim Gannon   Composer
Haven Gillespie   Composer
Walter Kent   Composer
Jay Livingston   Composer
Gregg Rubin   Engineer
Jule Styne   Composer
Eden Ahbez   Composer
Joseph Mohr   Composer
Nadine McKinnor   Composer
Jester Hairston   Composer
J.R. Rodriguez   Engineer
Jay Johnson   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Steve Nelson   Composer
Sam Jones   Cover Photo,Back Cover Photo
J. Rollins   Composer
Billy Hayes   Composer
Sylvia St. James   Choir Contractor