Track Listing

1. Brown World
2. Valentine's Day
3. Occasion
4. Spot
5. I Like Love More
6. All Things
7. Win
8. Virgoid
9. Remember the Tarpon
10. Lose
11. Steve Lacy
12. Chanson Du Vieux Carre
13. Good to Be Home

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84466 in Music
• Released on: 2005-06-14
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
'Occasion,' the second volume of Marsalis Music's Connick on Piano series, presents Harry Connick, Jr. in one of the most challenging and spontaneous settings of his career - a series of duos featuring saxophonist Branford Marsalis. Like 'Other Hours,' the acclaimed first album in the series, 'Occasion' reminds us that Connick, who has also made his mark as a vocalist and actor, is at his core a commanding pianist and composer.

Amazon.com
This new recording by pianist/vocalist/actor Harry Connick recording on Branford Marsalis's label, is a delightful and diverse, thirteen track saxophone/piano duet. In this setting, these New Orleans homeboys display their dizzying interplay and invention with the kind of ease that can only come from years of friendship. Marsalis’s throaty tenor and silken soprano lines blend beautifully with Connick’s Errol Garner meets Thelonious Monk and Professor Longhair pianisms. On "Valentine’s Day" and "Virgoid" Connick’s left hand is steady, with a trace of the Latin tinge. It's beautifully contrasted by the the Broadway-type tunes, "I Like Love More" and "All Things." The pianist's performance on Marsalis’s "Steve Lacy" – an atmospheric elegy to the late sax giant – and the boppish title track -- proves that, to the contrary, familiarity breeds good jazz, not contempt. It also reminds us that there’s more to Connick than Independence Day, When Harry Met Sally, or Hope Floats. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews

"On OCCASION it's magic!"
I knew Branford Marsalis was an incredible musician, but I thought Connick was another story. Some decent acting now and then and an OK singing voice. But my wife loved his piano, so I bought her this CD (which I'm playing again as I type this). Marsalis wrote both the title song and "Steve Lacy" and Connick penned the rest. My sincere apology to Harry C--you are indeed an immensely gifted musician! From the dark and haunting "Chanson du Vieux Carre" and the pensive "Steve Lacy" to the light and spirited "Brown World," this saxophone-Steinway duo is perfect jazz. If OCCASION were a vinyl LP, I'd have worn out my turntable!

Another good Harry outing
Every album from Harry is different from the one before. Sometimes the experiment doesn't work (like that Star Turtle thing) but most are great. This one's really good. Very low production, just Marsalis and Harry playing together. But they're both excellent. Wonder why Branford doesn't get more billing on this project, on many of the songs he carries the melody line. No matter, it's a good effort from both.

Connick is a brillliant pianist
I saw a concert with Connick a few years ago in which he went from piano to piano on stage and played so amazingly. Before that I never knew what an amazing musician he was, )I had thought of him mainly as a singer). This CD totally shows off what Harry can do. We all know about Marsalis's mastery but know we hear how Connick can match up with the best with out even using his voice. Awesome!