Other Hours: Connick on Piano, Vol. 1

Harry Connick Jr.

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 2003)
• Original Release Date: July 15, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Marsalis Music
• ASIN: B00009RDEM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,575 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With a career that's cast him as New Orleans jazz revivalist, crooner, Actor, and Broadway composer it's enough to make one ask: Who's the real Harry Connick, Jr.? Indeed, this warm foray into neo-bop, small ensemble instrumental jazz may only complicate the question. If nothing else, its genesis alone is compelling tribute to Connick's restless creativity and seeming resistance to pigeon-holing. All the songs here were written for (though not all used in) Thou Shalt Not, the musician's ambitious 2001 Broadway adaptation of Emile Zola's Therese Raquin that scored him a Tony nomination, if not stellar box office success. This low-key recasting only underscores the material's utilitarian strengths and gives Connick a chance to display chops as polished as they are playfully reverent to their inspirations. "Dumb Luck," "My Little World," and "What a Waste" recall the angular adventures of Monk, while the lyricism of Ned Goold's sax on "Can't We Tell" and "How About Tonight" points toward the best of Brubeck/Desmond. Melancholy and low-key as it may be, it's an album that gently underscores the jazz piano stylist corner of his resume. And if this is the fruit of Connick's Broadway failure, we can only hope he stumbles so gracefully in the future. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A creative jazz set, fianlly Connick is stretching out..., November 23, 2003

By A Customer

This is not a Connick vocal album, this is a straight ahead jazz session, where connick finally cuts loose and shows the jazz world what he is capable of(he hasn't showed this much promise as a jazzman since 1997's To see You). Connick no longer sounds just like a Thelonious monk. Connick stretches out on these originals, it would have been mice for him to include astandard or two but this cd wil lshow there is more to Connick as a jazz improvisor than one might think. I hope he'll do another big band vocal album next m but with standards(like Come By Me).

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz Fan, August 15, 2003

By A Customer

Great on CD - better live, this is Harry leading a fine jazz quartet playing serious jazz music. Nice to hear Harry branch out in this way, and looking forward to more of the same. Good stuff.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It freakin' swings, October 27, 2003

By A Customer

First off, Ned Goold sounds like Rouse. Secondly, Harry Connick Jr., while best know for his singing, is a monster on the piano player, as evidenced on this album. This album not only showcases Connick's excellent compistion skills, it also presents a quartet with a great group concept. I think of Monks quartet everytime I hear it. It belongs on the shelf of anyone that has the ability to actually hear jazz. Branford Marsalis should be commended for releasing this album that major labels most liekly wouldn't touch because it is not accessible to the masses.