Connick Jr to Sizzle With New Orleans Sounds

By Subhadra Devan

MULTI-TALENTED Grammy and Emmy award winner Harry Connick Jr is excited about his concerts at DFP, writes SUBHADRA DEVAN.

A native son of N’Awlins, as he says it over the telephone, Harry Connick Jr’s music has become jazzier in recent years but he still maintains a heartthrob charm.

What can we expect from his concert at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas tomorrow?

“I’ll be playing big band but not the same kind of music as the last time I was here (January 2005, also at the DFP). The music I’m playing this time will be a lot of New Orleans music, you know what I mean? It’s gonna be kinda happy and fun. I’m really excited to come and play.”

He says he’s bringing the same big band which features saxophonists Ned Goold, Jerry Weldon and Dave Schumacher, trumpeters Roger Ingram, Bijon Watson and Mark Braud and trombonists Jeff Bush, Dion.

Connick Jr’s latest album, Oh My Nola, is dedicated to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina devastated it in August 2005.

How is Oh My Nola doing?

“It’s doing fine. You know this is kinda a tough time for music right now. I mean it’s selling well but not as well as some other records because it’s a weird time in the music business, you what I mean?

“Well, the Internet has changed a lot about the way music is bought and sold and discovered And I don’t think people are buying quite as many CDs as they were, you know, five years ago.

“So that’s just the way it is.”

Connick Jr is donating a chunky portion of his royalties to the No Habitat Musicians Village, a housing project set up in partnership with saxophonist Branford Marsalis.

Connick was calling from New York, at 10pm his time, on Friday.

“I took a week off, after doing a film in Canada.”That`s the romantic-comedy, Chilled In Miami, with Renee Zellweger.

He says he’s hanging around the house right then. “I’m just hanging out, with family, kids and wife. Just going out to dinner.

“I cook now and then. Not much. I know how to cook some local New Orleans (food). The family loves my red beans with rice. That’s a real New Orleans dish.”

Coming with the family?

“They’ll meet me on the tour but they won’t be in Malaysia. They have to finish up school.” Connick Jr will be here for four days and plans to do a little shopping here.

“I had a great time shopping in Malaysia the last time. I thought it was incredible. I’ve never seen better shopping than that. I’m looking forward to doing that again.

“Buy whatever, you know. Maybe some clothes, you know, whatever.”

To concert-ticket holders, Connick Jr says: “I can’t wait to play for you all. Wear a seat belt, cos it’s gonna be a wild ride.”

* Connick Jr’s My New Orleans Tour at the DFP runs March 3-5, at 8.30pm. Call 03-20517007

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