CONCERT REVIEW | Harry Connick Jr. manages to bridge the generations.

He’s paved the way for contemporary crooners like Michael Bublé and Jamie Cullum, and even Diana Krall owes him a little something, but Harry Connick Jr. is still basically the undisputed king of popular jazz. It’s not hard to see why. Not only is he musically inclined, Harry is also handsome, charming, and hilarious. Plus, he’s old enough to be respectable, and young enough to be hot. He’s pretty much got the board covered.

Harry Connick Jr., Only You album cover, 2004.

As a result, the Only You tour – which brought him to Vancouver this week – is somewhat difficult to categorize. From improvised jazz and 1950s-style ballads, to quirky anecdotes, Harry’s Aunt Marnie, and even a little booty shaking (yes, he danced), the show was all over the place – but in a good way.

While the audience largely consisted of middle-aged couples, there were plenty of twenty-somethings (and even a few teens) in attendance as well.

Just before the concert began I overheard a young woman admit to her companion that she’d come to the concert to scout songs for her wedding. “I want something classy, you know,” she said. “None of that modern [crap].”

Modernization is one of Harry Connick Jr.’s trademarks.

He presents his audience with plenty of Rat Pack favourites. However, not a single number is a straight rendition of a ‘50s song. Harry always puts his personal spin on the material, updating it for contemporary audiences with improvisation and fresh musical twists. There was a slide trombone feature (which bordered on being a duel) to a slightly convoluted story about an encounter with country great George Jones. Harry works hard to make the show his own, always mixing the classic with the unexpected.

All in all this approach is working for him.

Between 20 million album sales (and counting), multiple Grammy awards, and nominations for Tonys, Emmys, Oscars, and Golden Globes, Harry’s musical plate is full.  He’s also an actor who regularly manages to hold his comedic own among the likes of Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack – who was in the Vancouver audience, by the way – in a recurring role on Will & Grace. The only thing lacking onstage was the requisite big, fat ego.

Dressed in jeans and a simple black shirt, from the moment he stepped on stage, Harry appeared comfortable and unpretentious.

He looked like he was having fun. Unlike so many performers who paste on a smile in order to give the impression that they enjoy their jobs, Harry’s enjoyment of his work seemed genuine. He flashed his massive grin repeatedly and chatted spontaneously with both the audience and members of his band.

Highlights included lovely versions of You Don’t Know Me and Save The Last Dance For Me as well as the aforementioned trombone duel and numerous solos from each member of the Big Band. Nearly every aspects of the evening was enjoyable.

While many concert audiences are peppered with distracted chatterers, virtually everyone at Harry Connick Jr.’s Only You seemed entranced by him, interested in his every gesture. He’s that charismatic.

Harry’s a bit of a throwback – an appealing vestige of an extremely popular musical era.

When so many popular musicians are angry young men or vapid teens, Harry captures a little bit of 1950s class.

These days, popular musicians tend to focus far more on their studio efforts than they do on their live performances, and in this regard, Harry Connick Jr. is a standout. His performance on Thursday night was easily as good as his work on the Only You album.

And though he insists in interviews that he regularly makes mistakes on stage, the QET show seemed note-perfect. Even the booty shaking.

Harry Connick Jr.: Only You was at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, July 29, 2004.

Jen Selk is a writer in Vancouver. More music pieces can be found here.

This Harry Connick Jr concert review was originally published in the Vancouver Sun, July 31, 2004. The original headline was “Handsome Harry touches all the bases”. See below.

Published July 31, 2004 in The Vancouver Sun.