With help from a 13-piece band, the jazz singer and pianist brought boatloads of New Orleans sunshine, charm and musical virtuosity for his first-ever show at the outdoor Grand Rapids amphitheater. (Photo gallery)
New Orlean’s Finest: Harry Connick Jr. regaled a big crowd at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday. (Photo/Anna Sink)
With the mercury in the 90s and the heat index hitting triple digits on Wednesday, it couldn’t have gotten any hotter at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
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That is, until a certain charismatic singer took the stage to frantic waves and hoots of delight from many in the female contingent in the sold-out crowd of 1,900 at the outdoor amphitheater.
Harry Connick Jr.’s Meijer Gardens debut generated plenty of heat, musically and personality-wise, mostly because the 45-year-old singer, pianist, trumpet player and actor oozes charm from every pore of his body.
With a gentle breeze helping the cause, the sellout crowd didn’t seem to mind the heat.
Of course, it helped to have a lively 13-piece jazz orchestra along for the steamy ride, too, especially New Orleans trombonist Lucien Barbarin, who served as a vocal, instrumental and comedic duet partner with Connick at times during the 2-hours-plus show.
“It’s frickin’ hot, but the breeze is nice,” Connick declared early on before crooning the classic, “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.”
The singer with the suave, Sinatra-like demeanor and endearing stage banter noted he’s played many fine venues in his day, “but I don’t know if I’ve ever played at one as beautiful” as Meijer Gardens.
He added that he now intends to return regularly and even set up shop in the sculpture park. “I want a small house … under that big horse out there,” he chirped, before vowing that he and his band would deliver the most “enthusiastic, hard-working, pedal-to-the-metal show you’ve ever seen.”
Many in the crowd likely would agree … and hope he actually does move in.
HARRY CONNICK JR.: THE LOCAL SPINS PHOTO GALLERY (JULY 17, 2013)
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
