Review: The Hollywood Bowl, Harry Connick Jr. Fireworks Spectacular

It was July 3rd…a celebratory night at the Hollywood Bowl which began with Thomas Wilkins conducting the exquisite LA Philharmonic Orchestra. I attended the show on the second day of a three day stint for Harry Connick Jr. Each performance featured the Bowl’s famed fireworks display. 

Harry Connick Jr. at The Hollywood Bowl

The show opened with the “Star Spangled Banner,” encouraging all of us to embrace the spirit and profound meaning of the 4th of July holiday. Then the orchestra launched into several well-known compositions, such as Leonard Bernstein’s “America” from Westside Story. I especially loved the overture of Girl Crazy by the legendary Ira Gershwin as well as the orchestra’s salute to our armed forces. The conductor invited veterans and active duty service members to stand up as he called out the names of each branch of our armed forces. It was wonderful to see their reaction as we all cheered them on in recognition of their service. The final composition to round out the LA Philharmonic’s set, was “America the Beautiful.”

Moments later, Harry Connick Jr. was on stage masterfully breaking into a solo on the grand piano. He began utilizing minor and dissonant chords which led into a ragtime snappy tune. Then his playing rolled down a darker path before moving into a flurry of jazz, sparking it up again. Suddenly, the brass section of the orchestra joined in. Then the entire orchestra followed, and the performance crescendoed into a grand climax. The combination of Harry, his band and the LA Phil made for a huge sound.

When Harry Met Sally

After greeting the audience, Harry told us how much he loved playing the Bowl. He diplomatically said, “It may be the greatest venue on the planet.” Then he immediately followed with a story about working with Rob Reiner on the film When Harry Met Sally which would ultimately win the artist his first Grammy Award. He won Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance for his multiplatinum album – When Harry Met Sally. Then he launched into “It Had to Be You” from that album with members of his trio. It featured a smoking stand up bass solo by Neil Caine, as well as a powerful drum solo by Arthur Latin II. The crowd roared as Harry asked “How do you like my band?” Throughout the show, the LA Phil accompanied on many of the songs, while members of Harry’s band stepped into the spotlight.  

Harry is a veteran performer with an innate ability to engage any size audience like no other. Whether he’s crooning a jazz classic or simply talking to the audience, his charisma is palpable. Perhaps that is because he is also a seasoned actor. Harry is great off-the-cuff. I absolutely loved his talk show Harry which aired on NBC for two seasons. In addition to showcasing relatively unknown jazz players on his show, he would talk to audience members. After finding out what was going on in someone’s life, Harry would then improvise a song to that person. It was extraordinary. 

Touching Live Moments

A memorable part of this show came out of one spontaneous gesture. Harry was describing how his friend, who came to the show the first night, had some amazing fried chicken. Jokingly he said, “Maybe I could get some of that chicken.” Within all of a minute’s time, a woman was offering chicken to the singer. Harry proceeded to bring her up on stage. 

Andrea was enjoying the show with her family. She had recently lost her wife, and you could see the instantaneous empathy that Harry had for this woman. He sat her on a stool by the piano and told her about his own recent loss of a loved one. Then he started serenading her. This went on for a bit. Then he got his band involved by asking Andrea to choose which musician would get a solo. It was hilarious. As she hugged him goodbye, she thanked him and said hello to her children. She went on to say “I know my wife is watching over us, and made this all happen.” These are the magical moments that occur when Harry Connick Jr. is on stage. 

Favorite Performances

Some of my favorite tunes of the night included the classic Cole Porter’s “I Love Paris,” along with his own two originals – “Take Me to the City Beneath the Sea,” and “Come by Me.” Another funny moment was Harry’s introduction for the song he wrote to his longtime wife Jill. He pointed out how wonderful it was to have Jill and one of his daughters in the audience. But then he went on to say that his father-in-law was also attending the show, making it a bit awkward to sing the sensual song. He did an exceptional job. 

Soon Harry thanked his band, grabbed his fried chicken and ran off the stage with a huge smile. Then, the spectacular fireworks show began, accompanied by the LA Phil. It was a beautiful display, as the fireworks grew larger and larger culminating in an explosive finale. When the last glowing ember went dark, Harry returned for a proper send off with “Down on Bourbon Street” as an encore. It was an outstanding night filled with camaraderie and pride for the USA. If you are visiting LA, the Hollywood Bowl is an incredible venue, so be sure to take in a show while you are here. If you’re a local, consider buying seasons passes for a summer filled with fun. And of course the Bowl is known for its fireworks. Visit the Hollywood Bowl’s website for upcoming performances – https://www.hollywoodbowl.com