His music thrives on soothing strings and syncopated piano. His satin voice is a time machine.
With the power to transport listeners to the days of the Rat Pack, the Feb. 3 release of Harry Connick, Jr.'s "Only You" has the ability to stop the busy world outside and take listeners somewhere where martinis and cigars flourish.
Known around town as a leading living jazz singer/pianist/composer, Connick has remained very traditional for his 22nd album since 1978.
Slightly slower-paced overall, the disc is perfect for a lazy day or as background music to a posh get-together with "My Blue Heaven," a ballad that is complimented by the piano, saxophone and exotic percussion.
Halfway through the smooth and musically level album, the tempo in "For Once in My Life" is the first song to accelerate the traditional beats. With an unusual baseline for classic jazz, the foundation of the song breaks free from the constraints of the rest of the instruments, sending it decades ahead of its time into the present. The result is somewhat reminiscent of a hip-hop or R&B sound.
The ability to take a classic song, rearrange it to fit a particular genre of music and preserve it as if time never touched it, is a remarkable trait of this album. In such songs as the 1960's "Save the Last Dance for Me," written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, and Allen Toussaint's "All These Things" the disc drips with undeniable hits.
Romance is not the only impractical thing that Connick is capable of on "Only You." He also turns reality and certainty into something for the foolish. The tender swing and seductive lyrics are easily mistaken for actuality in a perfect world:
"The touch of your lips next to mine/Gets me excited and makes me feel fine/The thrill is so divine," the song famously sings.
Acting as a station for time travel that overflows with sultry ballads, the 12-track disc may be slightly overdone. Nevertheless, this may be the best tool to tap into the way it felt to be in love in past decades.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
