Harry Connick, Jr. - Smokey Mary - released February 2013 (Columbia)

Genres: Jazz-Funk, Vocal Jazz

This album is about celebrating New Orleans and its music. There is a lot of traditional standards type material on this album which has been tuned towards uplifting funk songs that sound like a street party in The Big Easy. Pre-Bop era jazz is mixed with the jazz-funk of the 1970's to give the music a nostalgic and lighthearted bent. The sound of the horns is very bright, clear and ever-present. 

This is the first album Harry Connick Jr. released in 2013 with the second coming out a few weeks back called Every Man Should Know which I'm told isn't as loose or funky as this one but is a bit deeper. This is very light music all the way through. Even the love-lorn songs on this album are dance numbers. In the linear notes Connick tells the tale of starting a 'krewe' or 'parades members' to party with each year called The Orpheus Krewe and enjoying the cultural melting pot of his hometown during celebration time. On this album, he uses lively jazz to sing little clever songs that sound very easy for everyone involved. The centre of attention is Connick's voice and he carries the show along quite well. The music is probably a bit safe but that isn't the point, the point is to carry a party along. 

The train on the front cover is float at Mardi Gras, the album is named after it. The first song is the title track at it signals the start of  reveling. 'S'pposed to Be' is a big happy gospel love song, as in "I'll be with you when I'm s'pposed to be". 'Cuddina Done It', 'The Preacher' and 'Mind on the Matter' are faster funk workouts. 'If I Were Him' is charming and has the line "I'm scared of crying so I sing". 'Dang You Pretty' is corny but at least Connick knows this and has some fun with it. 'Angola (At the Farm)' has a memorable shuffle. 'Nola Girl' makes good use of  flute to have choppy funk line and has some ragtime piano at the end with plenty of low lap-guitar. 'City Beneath the Sea' is a great way to toast New Orleans. 

It ain't nothing but a party. 

RATING: Worth the price of admission. 

There doesn't look like there were any released singles off this album but here's a video of 'City Beneath the Sea' which is an excellent song and can get tears flowing. 

EDIT: I found out that 'City Beneath the Sea' was actually recorded for Connick's 1995 album Star Turtle (so was the song 'Mind on the Matter'). I thought I might add a track from the Smokey Mary album. Below is the title track 'Smokey Mary (Boogie Woogie Choo-Choo Train)' with a stopgap video that isn't official.