Stamford, CT-Dave Brubeck famously said, “Jazz stands for freedom. It's
supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take
chances, and don't be a perfectionist - leave that to the classical musicians.”
There is no one who embodies this more than the legendary Harry Connick, Jr. The Palace Theater is incredibly excited to have this three-time Grammy-award winner
in concert on Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13 at 8pm.
His musical talent is multi-faceted; not only can he bring
grade-A jazz vocals, but he is a gifted composer and lyricist. He initially
rose to fame for performing the soundtrack to the hit movie When Harry Met Sally, bringing a fresh
flair to classics like “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and “It had to be You.” This soundtrack won him his first Grammy. Soon after, he released his most
popular song to date, “I Could Only Whisper Your Name,” for the classic Jim
Carrey movie, The Mask, officially
launching him to the acclaim we all know of him today.
Connick is also a talented actor; he was first featured in Independence Day, and most notably
starred in Hope Floats with Sandra
Bullock. He played Dr. Leo Markus on the hit TV series Will and Grace for four years. Beyond that, he has excelled on Broadway. He was nominated for Best Soundtrack for the musical Thou Shalt not, starred the 2008 revival of The Pajama Game and in the 2011
revival of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Most recently, Connick stepped into the critic’s circle, replacing
Randy Jackson as a judge for the final few seasons of American Idol with Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban. Critics often remarked
how much Connick improved Idol by doing away with confusing criticisms and
implementing technical musical terms to mentor the contestants.
He is even a generous philanthropist. Immediately after Hurricane
Katrina, Connick went to New Orleans to begin relief efforts. He organized and performed in the NBC special A Concert for
Hurricane Relief. He highlighted struggling shelters and worked to restore a
line of homes for musicians.
Throughout his prolific career, Connick managed to keep with
his music. He has released twenty-six studio albums, winning two more Grammys
for the Albums “We are in Love” and “Songs I’ve Heard.” His music ranges from
the jazz of his New Orleans background to pop-funk, to taking a classic twist
on modern hits. The concert will feature original songs from his entire career,
as well as classic jazz standards. Connick
often describes how he changes up the arrangements of his music before a
concert, so that he can keep what he’s singing fresh and interesting. No two
Connick performances are the same; every one is different and special.
He is so revered by all in Fairfield County, and the Palace
is truly honored to host him. Please come see one of the most talented
musicians in decades, you won’t want to miss it!
