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+--- Thread: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... (/thread-1853.html)
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - My Alter Ego - 09-06-2013
(09-05-2013, 09:00 PM)Miguel Wrote:Quote:(HCJ) has seven top-20 US albums, and ten number-1 US jazz albums, earning more number-one albums than any other artist in the US jazz chart history.
He was 22 (Haley's current age) here:
Quote:Bobby Colomby, the drummer for Blood, Sweat & Tears and a friend of director Rob Reiner, recommended Harry Connick, Jr., as the musician to work with on the soundtrack. When Reiner listened to the tape Colomby gave him, he was struck by Connick's voice and how it sounded like a young Frank Sinatra. The movie's soundtrack album was released by Columbia Records in July 1989. The soundtrack consists of standards performed by Harry Connick, Jr., with a big band and orchestra arranged by Marc Shaiman. Connick won his first Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance.
Arrangements and orchestrations on "It Had to Be You", "Where or When", "I Could Write a Book", and "But Not for Me" are by Connick and Shaiman. Other songs were performed as piano/vocal solos, or with Connick's trio featuring Benjamin Jonah Wolfe on bass and Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums. Also appearing on the album are tenor saxophonist Frank Wess and guitarist Joy Berliner.
The soundtrack went to #1 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Chart and was within the top 50 on the Billboard 200. Connick also toured North America in support of this album. It went on to reach double-platinum status.
And, I guess I helped make that soundtrack go #1. But, as I mentioned in the AI 2014 thread, I was initially confused and then disappointed with it. In the movie It Had to Be You is a Louis Armstrong recording (sorry, I can't find an online recording to capture); Where or When, the superb/sublime rendition by Ella Fitzgerald
; Write a Book, the incomparable Frank Sinatra (I think it may be from this version, that the Write a Book we hear in the movie.)
[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGuaoiI1bSc [/video]
While I assumed that Reiner must have been trying to give Connick a break into the business, I still felt -- I don't know -- cheated? Connick's renditions weren't necessarily imitations, but were, to me, poor substitutes. And then there were tunes that he flat out destroyed. Stompin at the Savoy was unrecognizable (It was the musical equivalent of being drawn and quartered, as far as I was concerned -- it was absolutely dreadful. I grew up listening to what my mother liked -- the Big Band Era. Oddly enough, because of my musical own growth and tastes that I've acquired, she's now a big "jazz? fan [or so she claims] and Count Basie has replaced Glen Miller.
Personally, I, like everyone I know of who played in those high school/college jazz bands, gravitated to preferring small combos that make the music intimate.) And its his (Connick's) rendition of Savoy that really makes me think that what he told the AI 12 contestants was hypocritical. But, in truth, I don't know that someone didn't sit him down after that horrid recording and say to him what he said to the contestants this past spring. I don't know that he didn't take that conversation to heart so much that ..... well, there is much I don't know about HCJ's musical journey, assuming that's what it was.
There was a different song of his on the rotation of this station today. I didn't hear it. While I can understand that some may hear "Sinatra" when listening to Harry, I hear how far removed from Frank he is. While there are some obvious Sinatra styling choices on the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack, Harry's voice is thin, and he definitely doesn't have the richness, resonance or depth of Sinatra's voice. If we stop trying to compare him to Frank Sinatra, and just let Harry be Harry, it's OK.
But, frankly, I -- we -- don't know what he'll be like as an AI judge.
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - NUG - 09-07-2013
I think there are a few (probably more than that actually) types of Jazz fans. My good friend who was a Jazz major in college, who I expected to drool over Haley when I showed her GBTC with Irvin Mayfield, didn't like it at all. She didn't like the way Haley sang "child" and how it progressively got more "distorted" until the end of the song- she said it made her crazy, along with the growling during the song, basically all of the extra touches Haley adds that I adore. She did say the scatting at the end was "ok" lol, but overall didn't like it, she said Haley added way too many tricks for it to be enjoyable. That is what I think Harry would say. I really like it when Jazz gets dirty with those extras that bring surprise to an old song.
Edit to add: we don't discuss Haley anymore so that we can save our friendship. I almost blew a gasket when she didn't like her AT ALL. She was, however, my only friend who "liked" I Hear You Knockin' by Fats that I posted on my wall from last week.
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - Himm2 - 09-07-2013
(09-07-2013, 07:33 AM)NUG Wrote: Edit to add: we don't discuss Haley anymore so that we can save our friendship.
Cheri wanted to invite our neighbor at the end of the street to our Haley party and I flat out said NO because I had to defend Haley to the death to him during her run on Idol because he jumped on the "Attitude Problem" bandwagon. He's still my good friend that I go to White Sox games with because he's a season ticket holder, but it did test our relationship. I think I convinced him that he was completely off base (just like the White Sox this season!)
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - My Alter Ego - 09-07-2013
(09-07-2013, 07:33 AM)NUG Wrote: I think there are a few (probably more than that actually) types of Jazz fans. My good friend who was a Jazz major in college, who I expected to drool over Haley when I showed her GBTC with Irvin Mayfield, didn't like it at all. She didn't like the way Haley sang "child" and how it progressively got more "distorted" until the end of the song- she said it made her crazy, along with the growling during the song, basically all of the extra touches Haley adds that I adore. She did say the scatting at the end was "ok" lol, but overall didn't like it, she said Haley added way too many tricks for it to be enjoyable. That is what I think Harry would say. I really like it when Jazz gets dirty with those extras that bring surprise to an old song.
Edit to add: we don't discuss Haley anymore so that we can save our friendship. I almost blew a gasket when she didn't like her AT ALL. She was, however, my only friend who "liked" I Hear You Knockin' by Fats that I posted on my wall from last week.
Gulp .... I have learned -- the hard way, of course -- that one must never, ever, ever, ever, ever say the slightest thing that might considered "critical" of Haley in this forum. Such is the nature of her fans. Personally, I don't agree with that, because I don't think that she'll continue to grow if all she ever hears is that she can do no wrong.
There are some things that I would agree with your friend. To this day, I still can't fathom why Haley pronounced the word "child" as "chee --ild." And she did. There are other ways to extend that word, without the mispronunciation/distortion that she used. Enunciation is one of things that Haley really could and should work on. (As example, if she enunciated better, maybe those at the most recent Vegas stint would have heard "Mr. PC," rather than "ABC.")
On the other hand and while I've been somewhat critical of that performance here, I have also come to realize that some, if not most, of my criticism is probably due to the recording, and less to the musicianship. And then, I feel uncomfortable, because Casey was smart enough to capture that performance with what technology he had available -- his phone. Had he not done that, the rest of us would have never known about that amazing performance.
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - Tusk - 09-07-2013
And yet with such an awful performance, Irvin decided to invite her, of all jazz singers he knows, to sing at his debut at Carnegie Hall... Go figure....
If I recall his intro at Carnegie, he expected her to be just another run of the mill jazz singer...but she was much more...
I find it amusing that in a genre that prides itself on improvisation and converting words and music to scatting equivalence that those are what Haley is being critiqued on...
I know VERY little about jazz, its because I've listened to Haley singing it that I've searched other Jazz things. Haley led me to jazz, and maybe that's what Irvin saw in her. Haleyholic, after Carnegie said one of things she enjoyed the most was watching me become a jazz fan, while enjoying Haley...and isn't that what ALL music should be about ?
I'd take his opinion over your friend's NUG
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - Himm2 - 09-07-2013
Rose-colored glasses works for me. Maybe because I wish Haley was my own daughter and therefore I treat her like a Proud Papa would. I'm also not as musical savvy as many of you all...I just know what I like and what gives me pleasure. That's all I need in life. I'll go with whatever Haley Flows, Flows not Flaws.
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - My Alter Ego - 09-07-2013
(09-07-2013, 10:38 AM)Tusk Wrote: I find it amusing that in a genre that prides itself on improvisation and converting words and music to scatting equivalence that those are what Haley is being critiqued on...
Dear Tusk, I recognize that seem to be addressing NUG's friend above--and I truly do not want to get into verbal fisticuffs with you.
But you are seeing what you wish to see/hear. Mayfield is a musician (and a good one!), yes. But he's a smart one, and and educator and businessman on top of it. (And, hurray to/for him that he is all that!!)
Do I love watching Mayfield's change from skepticism to taking her seriously (as she met his "challenges" to amazement? Absolutely!
But frankly, do you really believe that if Casey had not made and then posted that recording online, that Mayfield would still have included them in his debut concert?
Casey may have not had a clue about what he was doing (although I doubt that -- he may not have had the prescience to know "oh, this guy will invite us to Carnegie with him" but I suspect he suspected something "momentous" would occur when Haley started singing), but ultimately, it's that he made that recording and then posted it online, that made Mayfield realize that including Haley -- and, ultimately, Casey -- in his line up was useful.
And, those of you who don't recognize that, aren't quite looking at reality.
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - Tusk - 09-07-2013
I know for a fact it was not a pre planned coordinated thing, make of it how you want....
my reality lies in what I've been told what I've seen and what I've heard...
furthermore, I don't post all I know...
regardless, the point is Haley's ability at jazz. Your conjecture to Mayfield's motivation, and it is conjecture, sidesteps the fact he thought Haley was "good enough" to not only perform for him, but also, as you suppose, be used as a timely 'tool' to advance his agenda, stiil says that she is being given more credit for her jazz chops by him than was given be NUG 's friend.
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - Swansteel - 09-07-2013
I'm fully aware that some of Haley's unique vocal turns can be a turn off for some. All I can say is that it is exactly because of those little vocal flourishes that I was first drawn to her. In the very first Idol songs I purchased I was particularly drawn to her little drop notes and the way she would bend the end of lines in that up and down way she does. I know I'm not coloring my perceptions too, because I listen to all sorts of singers and enjoy many styles, but it is Haley's uniqueness as a vocal performer that draws me in and keeps me interested. It is all really a matter of personal taste. Some people will love what she does and others will not. I'm cool with that.
RE: Haley and Harry Connick Jr... - My Alter Ego - 09-07-2013
(09-07-2013, 12:32 PM)Tusk Wrote: I know for a fact it was not a pre planned coordinated thing, make of it how you want....
my reality lies in what I've been told what I've seen and what I've heard...
furthermore, I don't post all I know...
regardless, the point is Haley's ability at jazz , and your conjecture to Mayfield's motivation, and it is conjecture, sidesteps the fact he thought Haley was "good enough" to not only perform for him, but also, as you suppose, be used as a timely 'tool' to advance his agenda, stiil says that she is being given more credit for her jazz chops by him than was given be NUG 's friend.
My conjecture may only be conjecture, but until I know facts (that you're unwilling to share), my "conjecture" probably makes more sense than much of what we typically see.