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Product Description
Review
Its US title is Oh, My Nola, a reference to New Orleans that might not be caught immediately in the UK. The new umbrella gives a more succinct idea of where Connick's at for this summation and celebration of the beleaguered Crescent City. At first glance, this appears to be a completely predictable spread of hoary old favourites that just about anyone would choose as a personification of New Orleans. What justification is there to re-visiting such numbers, apart from mopping up in the aftermath of the flood?
Well, that's obviously a part of it, and Connick will be donating a chunky portion of his royalties to the No Habitat Musicians Village, a housing project set up in partnership with saxophonist Branford Marsalis, who also happens to release Harry's more specialist recordings on his own label.
Connick arranges and conducts his big band crew, but also breaks its components down for some strategically-placed small-unit features. The album opens with an approachably poppy reading of "Working In The Coal Mine", but Connick has been increasing his jazz authenticity quotient in recent years, whilst still managing to flex his hearthrobby ticket-selling muscle. After this opening strut, the songs start to get steeped deeper into those old-fashioned gumbo-juices. The Connick croon remains supple and lightweight, and his voice still has the freshness of youth, not yet developing any grizzled qualities that might normally suit these songs. It's well-attuned to the vintage, old-time velvety radio tone adopted by some of these cuts.
It's not all slick horn sections, either. On "Let Them Talk...", he cuts back the blowing ranks, and slides in the strings, then "Careless Love" is an intimate first-take of an impromptu trio version. Conversely, it took Connick fifteen shots to crack "Someday", a Smiley Lewis tune from the 1950s. It was worth it in the end, though. "Jambalaya" eschews the expected Cajun bounce, going for a straight jazzy parade, whilst "Hello, Dolly" features a long instrumental introduction before the big band kicks in.
Connick also contributes several of his own songs, managing to shade them into the general New Orleans flow. "Oh, My Nola" employs a traditional street parade line-up, complete with banjo and spirited shout-outs, while "All These People" is the best, a duet with Kim Burrell that directly addresses the flood's aftermath. Here he makes his own songs shuffle into the vintage company with surprising ease. --Martin Longley
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Harry Connick's tribute to his hometown of New Orleans was released in the States in January under the title of "Oh, My Nola" so it is surprising that this album hasn't been released in the UK until now.
The sixteen songs on this album are either about, or from, New Orleans. He uses many of the city's musical styles, jazz, gospel, cajun, R&B, country and brass bands to make what is his most eclectic album yet. Even so, his swing and jazz funk styles together with his stride piano are always in evidence. There are four Connick originals on the album and the other twelve are popular standards that have been re-worked by Connick in unfamiliar styles. Hank Williams' "Jambalaya" is given a New Orleans big band treatment with much brass and woodwind, and Lee Dorsey's R&B classic, "Working In The Coal Mine" has more of a funky feel. "Careless Love" recalls country honky tonk and featuring just piano, acoustic guitar, bass drum and tambourine.
Connick's own songs stand up well against the classics. "All These People" with gospel singer, Kim Burrell, was written after Harry had visited New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This very moving song opens with the spoken words "I never saw nothing like that before in my life/I hope I never see it again."
His more typical big band jazz sound and impeccable vocals are found on "Someday" and "Lazy Bones." Whilst "Do That Thing" is a celebration of Nola's musical greats, the album is a celebration of its heritage, its people and its music as well as to a hometown that almost died.
Buy this album, you won't regret it.
The sixteen songs on this album are either about, or from, New Orleans. He uses many of the city's musical styles, jazz, gospel, cajun, R&B, country and brass bands to make what is his most eclectic album yet. Even so, his swing and jazz funk styles together with his stride piano are always in evidence. There are four Connick originals on the album and the other twelve are popular standards that have been re-worked by Connick in unfamiliar styles. Hank Williams' "Jambalaya" is given a New Orleans big band treatment with much brass and woodwind, and Lee Dorsey's R&B classic, "Working In The Coal Mine" has more of a funky feel. "Careless Love" recalls country honky tonk and featuring just piano, acoustic guitar, bass drum and tambourine.
Connick's own songs stand up well against the classics. "All These People" with gospel singer, Kim Burrell, was written after Harry had visited New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This very moving song opens with the spoken words "I never saw nothing like that before in my life/I hope I never see it again."
His more typical big band jazz sound and impeccable vocals are found on "Someday" and "Lazy Bones." Whilst "Do That Thing" is a celebration of Nola's musical greats, the album is a celebration of its heritage, its people and its music as well as to a hometown that almost died.
Buy this album, you won't regret it.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I purchased this album whilst on holiday in Canada back at the end of June. Over there the album was called 'Oh, my Nola'. Over here it's called 'My New Orleans'. It's basically the same album except it's named differently.
The music styles featured on here go from traditional jazz to cuban, R&B, the big band sound, a bit of soul added in as well. There are terrific arrangements given to the standards featured on here and Harry Connick Jr breathes new life into them. Among the old favourites his own songs feature well especially 'All These People' which he wrote after his visit to New Orleans in the aftermath of the catastophic events that happened there. A powerful and poignant song that's delivered really well.
If I were to choose a couple of favourites I would pick 'Elijah Rock', 'Do Dat Thing', 'Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey?' and 'All These People'. But I would choose the whole album as there's not really a bad song on here. An amazing album from one of the most talented jazz singers of the modern era working today. In my opinion this is well worth owning.
The music styles featured on here go from traditional jazz to cuban, R&B, the big band sound, a bit of soul added in as well. There are terrific arrangements given to the standards featured on here and Harry Connick Jr breathes new life into them. Among the old favourites his own songs feature well especially 'All These People' which he wrote after his visit to New Orleans in the aftermath of the catastophic events that happened there. A powerful and poignant song that's delivered really well.
If I were to choose a couple of favourites I would pick 'Elijah Rock', 'Do Dat Thing', 'Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey?' and 'All These People'. But I would choose the whole album as there's not really a bad song on here. An amazing album from one of the most talented jazz singers of the modern era working today. In my opinion this is well worth owning.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is an amazing album. I was dumbfounded the first time I heard it.
The songs on "Oh My Nola" are songs that Harry Connick Jr. finds have a connection to New Orleans. There are traditional songs including a newly arranged version of Hello Dolly and there are a couple of new songs. I recommend All Those People - a song of Hurricane Katrina and more importantly all those people evacuated and waiting.
I find the percussion and rhythm unbelievable on "Oh My Nola".
This is actually a jazz album, I recommend even to those who are not jazz enthusiasts. Hear it and love it!
Louise.
The songs on "Oh My Nola" are songs that Harry Connick Jr. finds have a connection to New Orleans. There are traditional songs including a newly arranged version of Hello Dolly and there are a couple of new songs. I recommend All Those People - a song of Hurricane Katrina and more importantly all those people evacuated and waiting.
I find the percussion and rhythm unbelievable on "Oh My Nola".
This is actually a jazz album, I recommend even to those who are not jazz enthusiasts. Hear it and love it!
Louise.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great New Orleans music
It's great to hear Harry back to his roots and doing his thing with the band - and what a great band too!
Published on 9 May 2008 by Frank
Another winner for HCJ
I am a huge fan of HCJ and will be going to see the show that promotes this cd.
At first I wasn't sure but now having listened carefully to this album a number of times I am... Read more
At first I wasn't sure but now having listened carefully to this album a number of times I am... Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2007 by mgm
!
I heard this album for the first time on a flight and it completely blew me away. I ordered it as soon as I was within reach of a computer. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2007 by sam
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