Customer Reviews

Lofty's Roach Souffle

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Much to the chagrin of my jazz purist friends, I've been a fan of Harry Connick, Jr. ever since I saw him perform on Saturday Night Live. And I think that, in all fairness, this album stands up very well. As someone noted on here already, the bass playing is amazing- I wish that Harry still recorded with Benjamin Jonah Wolfe. Cynics might say that Harry is yet another young jazz pianist to borrow some style points from Monk, but really, how can you be a pianist and not be influenced by Monk? And while Harry isn't the greatest living pianist or anything, he certainly shows off good chops all through the album, mixing his New Orleans-y swing into some bop/post-bop pieces.

I also enjoy that Harry refuted, intentionally or not, the "New Sinatra" tag that many of his critics use to denounce him. Unless there's an instrumental Sinatra album that I've never heard.

What's best about this album is that it has the freshness and urgency that defined Harry's early albums. For sentimentalists out there (like me), it might remind you of the jazz revival of the late 80's, and the optimism of the time.

This is as solid an album as I've come across in the past ten years. I've had this CD since it was released and I come back to it again and again, finding new tricks, new attitude in a good solid recording. On tracks like One Last Pitch, Lofty's Roach Souffle and Hudson Bommer, Harry and the boys never let you up off the couch. They always have something new to show you. Basswork by Benjamin Wolfe stands out as the soul behind effortless riffing piano. I 've been waiting for Harry and the Trio to release something new. When they do, I'll be standing in line...

I just can't understand why this album isn't more popular, or why Harry hasn't put out another trio album like this. He's got a unique piano style, although borrowed from Monk and a few others, that is young and exciting on this album. It is borderline awkward and clumsy that also seems like sheer genius. The drumming is unbelievable. You get the feeling they had a lot of fun in the studio making this album as all three members bring "kick" to each song in a laid-back style. This sits on the CD shelf right next to Dave Brubeck's Time Out.

Lofty's Roach Souffle is a clear reflection of Harry's New Orleans roots, and is a great mix of bouncy and upbeat and quiet and mellow songs, all presented in a clear and enjoyable format. I recommend it to everybody and anybody who listens to jazz.

I loved this cd the first time I heard it. It is perfect for a relaxing evening or as background music at a social party.

I'm looking forward to another release like this from Harry! This is a great jazz collection that stays in my rotation, and really helps me to unwind!

I have to add that I was one of those folks way back in the late eighties who stumbled upon the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack in the now vanished record stores that once littered the shopping malls and street corners of America. I've been collecting soundtracks for almost two decades now and When Harry Met Sally was probably the first, and I still listen to it often, but more so in autumn and winter months as it has a very nostalgic feel for me.

Harry Connick Jnr. has lived a charmed life for sure in the twenty years since then, but he's done well and wouldn't complain even if you wrote a big fat cashier's checque just for that express purpose. He's always carried himself with an optimistic disposition, even when they hauled him away for that gun violation out of LaGuardia. But life can't be all wine and roses and it's a blessing to hear music like this on the darker days. Even folks like Michael Buble can benefit from all the groundwork that Harry laid and then later openly shunned - not wanting to fit neatly into that very uninspiring pigeon-hole that he was getting close to after We Are In Love.

I heard We Are in Love directly after the soundtrack album and then I discovered this and all the other albums subsequent, but I have to say that Lofty's Roach Souffle is absolutely my favourite and, in my humble opinion - his best work. It would be nice to hear something similar from him now that enough time has passed. Harry is big on themes if you know anything at all about his back catalogue, like: Eleven, 20, 25, 30. His age when all those albums dropped. I can easily see him revisiting this style and sound. 30 actually comes the closest, but that album is all cover tunes, even if it is mostly instrumental.

I will say that this is a solid album from beginning to end and does have that aura of Thelonious Monk at times and then finishes up with `Bayou Maharajah', which is a very obvious nod to James Booker, who he later called out to on She and Blue Light, Red Light (the latter being another masterpiece - no covers).

Hopefully he'll keep putting out good albums like this to challenge the music purists and get them riled up. I remember the criticisms when this came out, someone in Village Voice said in a review that he had a "sloppy left hand and `plodded'". Some folks are never satisfied though and great art and entertainment is often rejected by critics and purists anyways.

... ...

This 1990 album from Connick is difficult to get hold off now but its worth the effort. First off if you like Connick for his singing rather than his Piano playing this may not be for you. As a singer Connick's biggest inspiration was Frank Sinatra. As a Pianist (and on this album) his biggest influence was Thelonious Monk. The two are poles apart!

All the tunes are Connick originals, and quite a few sound like they could have been written by Monk. 'Hudson Bomber' could easily be a Monk track. In fact Monk wrote a tune called 'Coming on the Hudson' which was clearly Connicks inspiration. More original is some of the slower numbers on here such as ' Lonely Side' and 'Little Dancing Girl' which show a more melancholy side to Harry Connick.

On the last track Connick gets down to his New Orleans roots with 'Bayou Maharajah'. With a classic 2nd line rhythm, this is far removed from Thelonious Monk and nods to James Booker, Prof Longhair and Dr John - a great track.

With Connick are two classy musicians. Ben Wolfe is on bass and Shannon Powell on drums. Overall this is a fine album whose only fault is its lack of originality.

Wow, this is really amazing.. I have listened to Harry for over 10 years now and this is the only c.d. that I haven't picked up until a few days ago. I've read reviews of Harry's playing that say that he is one of the few true follow-up's to the great T. Monk. I never really noticed it until I heard this album, but let me tell you, the ressemblance is quite bizzare. I have been listening to a lot of Monk lately and it is amazing how Harry has adopted many of his unique mannerism's..on the ballads it seems he ressembles Monk less than the rest of the songs however.
forget background music.. this album serves to be analyzed for a long time as an excellent attempt at the continuation of the Monk tradition. By the way, It seems Harry has forged quite a different pianistic style today, and honestly I really wouldn't mind seeing him go back to his roots and explore this side more, and perhaps consolidate himself a little more among the true blue jazz fans out there. Am I alone on this?? Anyways, Monk fans, pick this up you'll be surprised.

A diamond in the rough for jazz fans, usually overshadowed by Harry's other vocal albums. This one is completely instrumental and lovingly crafted with plenty of piano embellishments,crisp percussion work, and an equal mix of slow and speedy tunes. The perfect album as background music or relaxation...either way, it's a cheery work, with plenty of energy for the devoted Connick fan, or simply a fan of modern trio works. Superb!