Thursday, 1 December 2022

Harry Connick Jr - Make It Merry


24 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy Make It Merry here (Apple Music)

I'm old enough to remember the delight I felt when Harry Connick Jr released his first Christmas album. When My Heart Finds Christmas was issued in 1993 and combined to important things - my love of Christmas music and my Dad's love of jazzy big-band crooners. We bonded over the opus and have loved every festive holiday set since (2003's Harry For The Holidays and 2008's What A Night: A Christmas Album). Harry has always said holidays have been a time for family so it feels right that has albums have bought my dad and my musical tastes into rare alignment at the most wonderful time of the year. It is a real treat that a fourth holiday collection, Make It Merry, has arrive and is just as joyful and triumphant as the Harry Holiday music which has come before...

The album opens with Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - and Harry feels intimately at home with the Judy Garland classic. A lush piano arrangement is enhanced by finger click beat and Andrews Sister style harmonies. Make It Merry continues the wish fulfilment by Harry singing across a mid-tempo score. Both really let Harry's expressive vocal shine, proving that he really is one of the greatest story tellers of our time. He picks up the pace with Papa Noel, adding New Orleans style jazz with ebullient horns swathing his jolly vocal in a vivid instrumental. Each instrument gets its moment in the spotlight, adding texture to the already compelling story that the lyrics tell. It is so much fun that you never want it to end. Now put the dog out...

The Christmas Song sees a stripped back band wrap Harry's smooth singing in an enchanting lullaby that, yes we've all heard a hundred times before but, still brings a new radiance to this gorgeous song. The infusion of strings in the middle 8 is a really charming touch. I Pray on Christmas is the most free-flowing song yet; building in elements of gospel along side some deep bass that has you raising your hands to the heavens in emphatic testimony. (It Must've Been Ol') Santa Claus is a musical Christmas Eve story for the whole family to enjoy (and for anyone who needs to believe all over again). They make it sound so effortless but the complexity of the band arrangements here (and across the album) require multiple listens to truly appreciate their genius.

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear is built through that heavenly keyboard and an old vinyl record of the shuffling percussion. It feels like it traverses the passages of time from some long forgotten radio show to find us again when we needed it most - a moment of tranquility, reflection and peace in a world that is all too often bustling with craziness and division. Christmas Time Is Here continues the ability to tune out unnecessary distractions and lose yourself in the music (and, of course, Harry's appreciative vocal style). On This Christmas Morning concludes this inadvertent trilogy of songs that all feel blissful and serene yet timeless and timely. If you are transported to a 50s MGM movie-musical with Harry as a leading man, you won't be alone.

Harry's new take on one of his first original Christmas songs, When My Heart Finds Christmas, is nuanced and engaging; like an old friend visiting after 20 years and finding your groove together straight away. Christmas Day is a song from Harry's own musical The Happy Elf and revived here with a thoughtful, loving instrumental and vocal. A modern day lullaby that wraps around you like a hug. Go Tell It On The Mountain make effective use of Yamaha organ, gospel singers and sassy brassy horns to bring out the joy in every moment. The giddy happiness continues with the finale of Jingle Bells - just such a feel good song that you end the album realising Harry has fulfilled his promise to make it merry and you are left feeling both joyful and triumphant. 

**Ghosts of Christmas past**
at

No comments:

Post a Comment