Harry Connick, Jr. will release a pair of new albums on Feb. 6. “Oh, My Nola,” will be issued via Columbia, while the all-instrumental “Chanson du Vieux Carre” will hit shelves via Marsalis Music.
The artist’s New Orleans hometown is celebrated on both albums, with covers of songs like “Jambalaya (On the Bayou),” “Bourbon Street Parade” and Dixieland favorite “Fidgety Feet.”
Connick penned four new songs for “Oh, My Nola,” and recruited Kim Burrell to join him in the studio for first single “All These People,” which was inspired by the struggles of New Orleans residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Connick also tries his hand at “Hello Dolly” and “Working in the Coal Mine.”
“Chanson du Vieux Carre” was recorded three years ago with the pianist’s big band and features two originals: the title track and “Ash Wednesday.” It also includes standards like “That’s a Plenty” and Louis Armstrong’s “Someday You’ll Be Sorry.”
All royalties from “All These People” will be donated to Connick and Branford Marsalis’ own New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village non-profit. A portion of the royalties of both albums will donated as well.
Here is the track list for “Oh, My Nola”:
“Working In the Coal Mine”
“Won’t You Come Home, Bill Bailey?”
“Something You Got”
“Let Them Talk”
“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”
“Careless Love”
“All These People”
“Yes We Can Can”
“Someday”
“Oh, My Nola”
“Elijah Rock”
“Sheik of Araby”
“Lazy Bones”
“We Make a Lot of Love”
“Hello Dolly”
“Do Dat Thing”
Here is the track list for “Chanson du Vieux Carre”:
“Someday You’ll Be Sorry”
“Panama”
“Ash Wednesday”
“Chanson du Vieux Carre”
“Bourbon Street Parade”
“Petite Fleur”
“Fidgety Feet”
“Luscious”
“New Orleans”
“I Still Get Jealous”
“That’s a Plenty”
“Mardi Gras in New Orleans”
