Joshua Bell: At Home With Friends

The concept of At Home With Friends was inspired by Joshua Bell’s long-time practice of holding "musical soirees" at his New York residence, eclectic gatherings of musicians, actors, comics, literary figures and others who convene for the sheer joy of sharing their art in an informal setting. With this in mind, Bell has spent the past four years designing and building his home in Manhattan to accommodate the ideal "stay-at-home" venue.

On this recording, friends performing with Joshua Bell include Chris Botti, Sting, Carel Kraayenhof, Josh Groban, Edgar Meyer, Frankie Moreno, Nathan Gunn, Regina Spektor, Chris Thile, Anoushka Shankar, Marvin Hamlisch and even Sergei Rachmaninov by way of Zenph Re-performance technology.

The covers that Bell selected for At Home With Friends are as varied as its performers, beginning with a tender rendition of “I Loves You Porgy.” The sweet strings of Bell’s violin blend beautifully with the lonely jazz of Botti’s trumpet on the Porgy and Bess ballad.

Sting lends his voice to the sixteenth century love song “Come Again,” a version of which appeared on Sting’s The Journey & The Labyrinth. I preferred the simpler lute rendition on Sting’s album, but Bell’s arrangement is also very pretty.

Josh Groban’s voice makes a good companion for Bell’s violin in the theme from “Cinema Paradiso.” However, it’s my Cuban boys Tiempo Libre who steal the show with “Para Ti.” The song alternates between peppy brass coupled with rhythmic Latin percussion and soft orchestral interludes.


Bell states. "Some of my most precious memories of childhood recall the ‘family musicales’ in my home; my sisters, my parents, my cousins all playing music together and for each other during the holidays. Since then I went on to have many thrilling experiences in concert halls, but I still enjoy the experience of making music with my friends and family in a small, intimate setting. There’s nothing like sitting on a pillow by the piano surrounded by passionate artists, not quite sure who’s going to get up next to perform. It’s my hope that this recording figuratively transports listeners into the room with us." -Joshua Bell


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HARRY CONNICK, JR. YOUR SONGS ALBUM REVIEW

Thanks to decades as a professional musician, it seems Harry Connick Jr. can adapt to any song or crowd. The renowned singer, pianist and actor achieves this on his new covers album, 'Your Songs.

Even though Connick has said the recording took him out of his comfort zone, he performs as if he's been playing these songs all his life.

"Your Songs" consists of Connick singing familiar songs backed by a full jazz big band and string orchestra. Along with writing the orchestrations himself, Connick recruited Branford and Wynton Marsalis to play on the album. Bluegrass guitar virtuoso Bryan Sutton also appears as a guest on the album.

"My usual pattern is I either write the songs or pick the songs," Connick says. "Depending on the configuration I arrange, orchestrate, conduct, sing, and then oversee the mixing and mastering. You might say that I'm very hands on."

This is the first album that Connick has teamed up with record company producer Clive Davis. Clive picked the majority of the songs and then Connick arranged and orchestrated them.

Connick has said he was used to working only with Tracey Freeman, his longtime friend and producer, so he was unsure what to make of it when Davis approached him with the project. Davis talked Connick into the project, saying the album was meant to feature both Connick's singing and arranging over the classics, and 'Your Songs' was born.

The process wasn't always so easy, though. The pair held meetings in Davis' "elaborate" office every week, discussing song choices and arguing about arrangements. Aside from their squabbles Connick was also taken aback by Davis' eloquence, saying the producer would refer to parts of the recording as "picayune" or "strident," descriptions Connick would mistakenly take as compliments. Despite their occasional disagreements, Connick graciously admitted that the record wouldn't have become what it was without Davis' influence.


The album includes classics such as Elvis Presley's "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You," Nat King Cole's "Mona Lisa," Tony Bennett's "Who Can I Turn To?," Frank Sinatra's "All The Way," Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are" and nine others.



Album Track Listing (Originally performed by):

All The Way (Frank Sinatra)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)
And I Love Her (The Beatles)
(They Long To Be) Close To You (The Carpenters)
Besame Mucho
The Way You Look Tonight
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)
Your Song (Elton John)
Some Enchanted Evening
And I Love You So (Don McLean)
Who Can I Turn To? (Tony Bennett)
Smile (Charlie Chaplin)
Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole)

Harry’s Upcoming TV Appearances:

9/25 – Oprah “Live Friday”
9/28 – Today Show
9/29 – The View
9/30 – Imus in the Morning
9/30 – Letterman
10/1 – Today Show
Week of 10/5 – Rachael Ray

Behind the Scene look at ‘Making of’ the album:

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