He may not have known sleigh bells and snowmen while growing up in New Orleans, but Harry Connick, Jr. always had the Christmas spirit, as he proves with his new Columbia album When My Heart Finds Christmas. Produced by Tracey Freeman and arranged, orchestrated, and conducted by Harry, the album is an artful blend of traditional carols, holiday favorites, and Harry originals featuring Harry on piano and vocals accompanied by a 70-piece orchestra and 42-voice choir. One of the most striking stylists in contemporary jazz and pop, Harry puts his own indelible spin on each of the fourteen songs on When My Heart Finds Christmas, especially with his lush and inventive orchestral arrangements. Tracks include lighthearted pop standards like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (on which Harry is joined by a 12-voice children's choir,) Sammy Cahn's "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," the swinging "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," "Little Drummer Boy," and "Sleigh Ride," as well as the sacred carols "Ave Maria," "O Holy Night," and "What Child Is This." An accomplished composer, Harry wrote four songs of his own, including the wild N'Orleans romp "(It Must Have Been Ol') Santa Claus," the hushed "The Blessed Dawn of Christmas Day," the funky gospel-flavored "I Pray On Christmas," and the warm and intimate title track. Other songs include "Christmas Dreaming" and Frank Loesser's elegant "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" Famed New Orleans drummer Zigaboo Modeliste makes a special appearance with Harry's big band on the tracks "(It Must Have Been Ol') Santa Claus" and "Little Drummer Boy." With When My Heart Finds Christmas one of America's favorite performers turns his attention to the blessings of the holiday season . Gather around the yuletide fire,and have a very Harry Christmas! Musicians Harry Connick Jr. - Vocals, Piano Ben Wolfe - Bass Russell Malone - Guitar Brad Leali - Alto Saxophone Will Campbell - Alto Saxophone Jerry Weldon - Tenor Saxophone Ned Goold - Tenor Saxophone Dave Schumacher - Baritone Saxophone Mark Mullins - Trombone Craig Klein - Trombone Lucien Barbarin - Trombone Joe Barati - Trombone Roger Ingram - Trumpet Dan Miller - Trumpet Jeremy Davenport - Trumpet Louis Ford - Clarinet Production Credits Producer - Tracey Freeman Recorded at: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA: July 16, 17, 19-23, 1993