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.] ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	10/28/2003
Label:	Columbia
UPC:	0887254262022
Rank:	36072

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

Technical Credits

Harry Connick, Jr.   Orchestration,Arranger,Composer
Gregg Rubin   Mixing,Engineer
Jay Livingston   Composer
John Jacob Niles   Composer
J.R. Rodriguez   Engineer
Vlado Meller   Mastering
Sammy Cahn   Composer
David Swope   Assistant Engineer
Russell Bartmus   Copyist
Mark Graham   Copyist
Steve Nelson   Composer
Lewis Redner   Composer
Alice Butts   Package Design
Sandy De Crescent   Orchestra Contractor
Maria S. Betro   Assistant Producer
Scott Landis   Photography
Stephen Cirona   Wardrobe
Martial Corneville   Hair Stylist
Charlie Paakkari   Assistant Engineer
Marie Josee Lafontaine   Make-Up
Billy Hayes   Composer
Bill Hayes   Composer
Sylvia St. James   Choir Contractor
Tracey Freeman   Producer
Traditional   Composer
Eden Ahbez   Composer
J. Fred Coots   Composer
Jack Rollins   Composer
Kim Gannon   Composer
Donny Hathaway   Composer
Franz Gruber   Composer
Jay Johnson   Composer
Joseph Mohr   Composer
Sam Jones   Cover Photo,Photography
Jule Styne   Composer
Nadine McKinnor   Composer
Jester Hairston   Composer
Ray Evans   Composer
Buck Ram   Composer
Leslie Richter   Assistant Engineer
Chris Ashburn   Assistant Engineer
Haven Gillespie   Composer
Walter Kent   Composer
J. Rollins   Composer