Harry in Paris
- 31 Oct 07, 08:08 AM
Its a beautiful day here in Paris, the sun is shining, the Seine is sparkling and my beloved and I are heading back into smoother waters. I'd like to say it'll all be plain sailing from here but let's face it men will always be from Mars, women will always be from Venus and sometimes I'm surprised the planets of the sexes are even as close as that.
Having just finished a delicious, if highly calorific, breakfast of strong black coffee and fresh, hot croissants from the boulangerie on the corner, I could not wait to tell you about last night - and don't worrry, it's nothing x rated.
No, last night we went to see Harry Connick Jr at Le Grand Rex, which was bulit in the early 1930's and as well as having a stunning art deco interior has the most comfortable seats of any venue I've ever been in. They are so squishy it would be very easy to nod off - but not when Harry's on stage.
This was his New Orleans tour, and joined by a 10 piece band of incredible musicians he played a mix of old 'N'Awlans' jazz standards and new songs he'd written himself, including one very powerful and moving post-Katrina ballad. He danced, he played, he sang and it was a true homage to the home town he loves so well.
His skill as a pianist and all round performer is breathtaking, but oh that voice....it could melt your soul, especially on the slow numbers when he really does sound exactly like Frank Sinatra - the phrasing, the timbre, the same languid, elegant, effortless style. For an encore he came out on stage with just the double bass player and sax and sang one of my all time favourite songs, Gershwn's 'Embracable You' ....it was so incredible I almost stopped breathing.
That was the first of several encores because if you think a Belfast audience is enthusiastic, Paris is all that plus a scary degree of persistance. They just would not let him go home. Three encores later, house lights on, 10 minutes of clapping and chanting "Arry, Arry, Arry..." and he actually came back on stage, changed into jeans and a casual shrt, having clearly thought he was on his way home. But no, this is Paris - they loved him, he loved them and finally he gave them what they wanted when he sat down at the piano and played "It Had to Be You".
It was a stunning night, and If you already have tickets to see him at the Waterfront Hall in a couple of weeks time you are very lucky indeed, and of you don't ....beg, steal, borrow, do whatever you have to, but do not miss that gig!!!
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