With Harry Connick, Jr., the numbers tell the tale—five Gold and three Platinum albums, two Grammys, scores of sold-out concerts and millions of enraptured fans worldwide. Now, it's time to add two new numbers to the tally, Eleven and 25, Harry's newest Columbia albums. Although released simultaneously, these recordings couldn't be more different. 25 is a moving new collection of jazz and pop standards performed on solo piano, while Eleven is a rare set of traditional New Orleans classics from an ensemble of New Orleans jazz masters, including Harry at the tender age of… you guessed it, eleven. Eleven was originally recorded in New Orleans in November, 1978. The album saw limited release at the time and has remained largely unavailable until today. Although only a child at the time, Harry had by then won over the hard-boiled jazz community with his precocious abilities and single-minded passion for the music. The album itself consists of nine jazz classics performed by a sextet of sterling players, including trumpeter Teddy Riley, clarinetist Liston Johnson, trombonist Jim Duggan, bassist Walter Payton, and drummer Freddie Kohlman, all towering figures in native New Orleans jazz for decades. Harry's refreshing piano accompaniment blends seamlessly with the masters' seasoned polish. Included are such immortals as "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Tin Roof Blues," "Wolverine Blues," "Doctor Jazz," "Lazy River," and "Muskrat Ramble." Great songwriters like Bix Beiderbecke, Kid Ory, and "Jelly Roll" Morton are represented here, all giants of traditional jazz and idols of Harry from his earliest days. As Paul Lentz says in his original liner notes, "Young Harry seems to be having a ball with his musical efforts, and that, to me, has always been one of the great strengths of the New Orleans traditional style…that he is but eleven speaks highly of both his present accomplishments and what should be a glowing future." As it turned out, Harry's future glowed far brighter that Mr. Lentz might have imagined back in 1978. But with all the sound and fury surrounding Harry, his tremendous career, his fame and his fortune, it's a double pleasure to hear the introspective mature artist at work all alone on 25, and to discover his budding brilliance unfolding on Eleven. No matter what or when, Harry Connick, Jr. finds a way to reach you. Musicians Harry Connick Jr. - Vocals, Piano Jim Duggan - Trombone Liston Johnson - Clarinet Freddie Kohlman - Drums Walter Payton - Bass Tedd Riley - Trumpet Production Credits Original album produced by James Duggan Original album engineered by Jay Gallagher and George Hallowell Recorded November 4 & 11, 1978 Produced for reissue by Tracey Freeman Engineered and remixed by Gregg Rubin Remixed and remastered at BMG Studios, NYC, October 1, 1992 BMG Engineer: Sandy Palmer Mastered by Vince Caro at BMG Studios, NYC