Jazzy crooner Harry Connick Jr. stepped away from his usual way of pulling together a CD on his latest record, “Your Songs,” a collection of covers including “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” and “The Way You Look Tonight.”
For the first time in Connick’s career, he allowed a record label to help guide the project in the form of legendary producer Clive Davis.
Davis has steered the careers of Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson and countless more, and has run several record labels over the decades.
“It was time for me to do another CD, and I got an inquiry from Clive’s office asking if I wanted to work with him,” said Connick, who plays as part of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass lineup this weekend.
Connick, who had never met Davis or worked with an outside producer, figured he’d give it a try.
“He’s an interesting guy with a long history in the music business, and I thought it would be nice to step out and try something different,” the recent “American Idol” mentor says.
But first Connick had to abandon what he was used to, the way he worked on 2004’s collection of covers, “Only You.”
On “Only You,” “I picked all the songs, finished the album and gave it to the label. But this one was very much a collaboration.”
They met, and Connick liked what Davis had to say. They talked about the project for six months, much of that time spent on song selection.
“He had a specific idea about what songs he wanted me to do,” Connick says. “We treated it 50-50. He respected me, and I respected him.
“There were times we disagreed. Some of the songs he had were too obscure, and he had some I thought weren’t right, but it was never a personal thing. And it was very specific with Clive. That was foreign to me. I’d never experienced any type of collaboration except with the musicians.”
What they agreed on was that it would be fun to deliver a CD of classic songs familiar to everyone, songs such as “Just the Way You Are,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Some Enchanted Evening.”
“From the beginning to the end, everybody knows all these songs and can sing along to them right away,” he says.
JAZZ ASPEN SNOWMASS.
Music. Benedict Music Tent, featuring jazz from various artists, including Dianne Reeves, Harry Connick Jr., Terence Blanchard, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley and Patti Austin. Firday through July 3. For ticket and lodging packages call 800-SNOWMASS or visit .
