Harry Connick Jr.

We were lucky enough to go see Harry Connick Jr. in concert tonight. This is the second time we have seen him live and it was even better than the last.

The show opened with just the band playing a medley of songs from all the Cd's. Each section had was featured. It was a great way to get into the show.

When Harry stepped out on stage, the crowd went wild. Not exactly what you would expect from a mostly 40's and 50's crowd. At the piano, Harry showed off his skills, but it was his voice that really got to me. Just hearing him sing brought the whole experience to life. It's even better in person than on the Cd's.

The concert was a mix of real New Orleans jazz and Harry's modern renditions. This was his New Orleans tour and most songs focused on his home town. Hits from older Cd's included "Come By Me" and "It Had to Be You."

Our favorite part of the show was the time Lucien Barbarin spent on stage with his trombone. He joined Harry in some duets and even sang a bit. The pair are quite entertaining together.

Aside from being a musician, Harry's a bit of an actor and comic. The show was interlaced with comments to the audience. One of my favorites was when he talked about going to the mall in Spokane. "There were nice things there. It's a nice mall you have." He also apparently saw a movie at the AMC and was a bit embarrassed by his own vocal outbursts during "Disturbia." Apparently even in a baseball cap, jeans and a t-shirt, Harry's more than recognizable.

At one point, Harry even invited a 13-year-old boy from the front row up to play piano. The boy played a bit of Beethoven and didn't do too bad. It really gave the idea that Harry's just the average guy who loves to share music with his fans.

After the last squealing trumpet (and trombone) faded away, and the curtain closed, the crowd gave a standing ovation. Harry came back out for an encore. He started it by reminding people about the devastation still left from Hurricane Katrina. He urged us not to forget.