A FRONT ROW DROOL OF CONNICK - BY M.K. - WARNING: This post contains groupie type praise and blabbering drool! Last night… ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ was not Disneyland. It was Bakersfield, California-- Civic Auditorium Rabobank Arena-- Front row seats in the Orchestra Pit-- 20 feet from Harry Connick Jr. and his grand piano, jazz trio and big band! And I was one of two ‘Mels’ who were having a heart-racing, hold-your-breath, and dream-come-true, wipe-the-drool-from-the-corner-of-our-mouths kind of night. Both of us had been in love with Harry Connick Jr. and his music for years, and only recently found that we had this in common.

“Oh my God! Look at these seats!” Mel exclaimed.

“Well, you said you wanted to be close enough to drool!” The other Mel replied.

“You couldn’t ask for better seats, these are perfect.” That guy the two Mels went with said.

We were close enough to drool. Close enough to see little drops of sweat on Harry’s forehead. Close enough to see Haryy's dimples. Close enough to see and hear Harry tapping his foot in time to his piano playing. Close enough to watch Harry’s hands playing rapid jazz piano rhythms and melodies. Close enough to see that he closed his eyes sometimes while playing the piano. Close enough to feel the inflections in Harry’s voice when he sang. Close enough to watch Harry shake his buns and dance to jazz trumpet, trombone and saxophone. And when he walked out to the edge of the stage, we were almost close enough to reach out and touch him.

And if that wasn’t enough… his jazz trio and big band were filled with extraordinary musicians! Some of the best music I’ve heard live in my life.

He sang old standards from his new cd ‘Only You’ songs from previous cds ‘Come By Me’, ‘To See You’ and others… He began the show with ‘A Kiss to Build A Dream On’. When he walked out to the edge of the stage and sang “… Give me a kiss to build a dream on…” in his deep romantic crooning voice, I don’t know about the other Mel but this Mel’s heart melted. Next he sang, “Take all of me…” and this Mel thought: “If I only could.”

And when he sang ‘For Once In My Life’ I leaned over to that guy the two Mels went with and said: “Someday…”

“Someday?” He asked.

“Someday… I’ll have everything Harry’s singing about in ‘For Once In My Life’.” This Mel said.

A lady gave him roses and Harry moved her and her husband up to better seats (but they weren’t as good as ours). Another lady yelled out “I love you Harry!” And he moved her and her friend up to better seats also. (Still not as good as ours).

“That was all set up ahead of time.” That guy the two Mels went with said.

“If we gave him roses or yelled out we loved him, do you think we’d get better seats?” Mel asked.

“Like in his lap!” The other Mel exclaimed.

In the middle of the show things slowed down for a moment-- Harry by himself. Just him, his voice, and his piano. He sang ‘Send Me Someone To Love’ like it was my desperate prayer, and an old James Booker song that I can’t remember the title of. He effortlessly reminded me of why he is my favorite jazz pianist of all time with intricate jazz piano rhythms and melodies. He is why I still keep the piano my parents bought for me as a child. He is the reason I still at times when I’m alone sit down at that piano and play old church hymns and other songs I’ve learned over the years. I would love to play the piano like Harry Connick Jr., but alas, I am not that talented.

Being from New Orleans he shared some New Orleans music with us in ‘Bourbon Street Parade’ and showcased his big band.

He ended the show with one of my favorite songs ‘Come By Me’ and even though he played us an encore… this Mel was sad to see Harry go. Sad to see this ‘two Mels dream-come-true Harry moment’ end. This Mel... rode the Harry-high feeling all the way home and into sweet Harry Connick dreams.