Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504250126
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But they shouldn't have been.
For his current tour of college campuses, Connick dropped the big band Sinatra-esque sound that has been his bread-and-butter. With it, he also dropped his slick silk suit look - and matching sophisticated persona.
Instead, Connick sported black jeans, a Virginia Tech T-shirt and his mood matched the rowdy college crowd that packed sold-out Burruss Auditorium.
"I'm fired up. My band's fired up. We're gonna rock this house tonight, boy!" he said, whooping it up uncharacteristically.
He wasn't kidding.
Musically, Connick sported the fat, funky, foot-stomping sound that he used on his last album, ``She.'' He has said the album was his nod to his native New Orleans roots. In concert, however, the effect was much fatter.
Instead of the suave of Frank Sinatra - Connick didn't include any of his big band material - imagine the soul of Ray Charles or The Neville Brothers, only funkier, harder rocking and, at times, explosive.
The show got especially explosive whenever Connick or any of his players stepped up for long solos and the full six-man band kicked in behind them. After Connick, who showed his prowess on piano, organ, guitar, bass and drums, the real stand-out Monday was guitarist Jonathan Dubose Jr.
Those disappointed by this departure from Connick's other incarnation have taken consolation in what Connick was trying to do, a great show.
As a funk master, he was no less entertaining than he is as a modern-day vintage crooner.
In fact, he might have been better.
Certainly, at least, more fun.
In a word, Connick's take on the Big Easy was hot.
Oh, and about the T-shirt, Connick, whose sister lives in Roanoke said: ``This shirt is awesome! It's so cool to come to a school with such a cool shirt.
``And Virginia Tech, it just sounds so cool.''
by CNB