Cincinnati, OH
November 16, 1997
Review #1
submitted by Brenda Popp
I was again fortunate enough to be present for the first concert of the
tour, and was as excited in Cincinnati last Sunday night as I was in
Madison, WI on October 10, 1996. The music started fifteen minutes after
they were scheduled to begin, and Harry came out wearing a dark gray suit
with a light gray shirt. Very dapper! He started with several songs from
his new CD: "Let's Just Kiss", "Once", "Much Love", "Let Me Love Tonight",
and "Heart Beyond Repair". Unfortunately, there were dozens of latecomers
(blocking my view), which Harry was quick to comment on, especially since
some were in the front row. Next the orchestra took a break, and Dave
Schumacher joined the small group for a jazzed up "Chattanooga Choo Choo"
and a traditional bee-bop number. Next Harry joked about white trash,
Jerry Springer, and playing in New York as an eighteen year old. As
always, Harry was extremely generous on stage and invited several of his
friends to do duets with him, including Lucien Barbarin (trombone), Leroy
Jones (trumpet), Reginald Veal (bass), Arthur Latin (drums), and Charles
Goold (saxophone). Then they all joined together to play "Limehouse
Blues". The Cincinnati Orchestra conducted by Robert Wendle joined them
again for "Love Me Some You" (with the dueling trombone/bass intro), "Loved
By Me" (aka "The Stalker Song"), and "To See You". The last song besides
the encore was a piano solo of "Sweet Georgia Brown", in which Harry
promised that every key would be played. After the concert, a large group
of people waited in the cold to meet Harry and get his autograph, which was
a thrilling ending to a perfect night.
Review #2
submitted by Veronica Parker
The cold night air of Cincinnati was warmed by the fire of romance at the
Harry Connick Jr. concert this past Sunday at the Cincinnati Music Hall.
Being a Harry Connick Jr. fan since his first album, I was happy to be
attending my first concert. It was certainly worth the wait.
The evening started with "Let's Just Kiss", one of the songs off his newest
album To See You. The smooth, romantic music filled the concert hall and
gave us a taste of things to come. Harry, along with his jazz quartet
Charles Goold on Tenor Sax, Charnet Moffett on Bass, & Arthur "Bam Bam" Latin
on Drums were accompanied by members of the Cincinnati Symphony. They played
most of the newest songs, including "Once", "Let Me Love Tonight", "Love Me
Some You", & "To See You" (which Harry himself told the audience was his
"Stalker Song"). The quartet produced soft, rich tones & I was fascinated
how in sync they were with each other, involved with every song as if it were
a part of them.
The evening also provided a sampler of some of the best jazz & the best jazz
musicians. Legends of New Orleans traditional jazz & Be-Bop created a lively
jam session with Harry. Musicians like Lucien Barbaran on Trombone, Leroy
Jones on Trumpet, and Dave Schumacher on Saxophone. This showcase of talent
played various jazz movements and favorites like "Caravan", "Back Home in
Indiana", and "Sweet Georgia Brown". Every note was pure heaven.
Harry spoke to the audience in-between sets, telling stories of how his wife
Jill joined the Harry Connick Jr. Fan Club in order to find out his concert
dates because he wouldn't know sometimes, how former Cincinnati mayor & talk
show host Jerry Springer sent him a T-Shirt after Harry told reporters how he
disliked those types of talk shows, and of his first night playing in a New
York City jazz club.
With the exception of latecomers disturbing the concert and those of us who
arrived on time, "An Evening of Romance with Harry Connick Jr." was a
splendid night to remember.
