What prompted the return to big-band jazz?
Harry Connick Jr.: I was just ready to get back in the studio with the big band. If I had my way I would never have left it. I would keep playing all the different kinds of music at one time, but the nature of the business is that you have to do a tour with an album. It’s not as cut and dried as turning my back on it. I never quit playing jazz music. MF: I read recently in USA Today where you are going to work on Garth Brooks’ next record writing arrangements for some of his songs. How did that come about? HC: I don’t even know. I talked to Garth about a week ago, and he asked me if I would do something on his record. I said, “Well, we’ll see what happens.” Next thing I know I’m arranging his whole record. I talked to him for five minutes one time. I don’t know him. He wants to do some big-band arrangements, and he asked me if I was interested. I said, “Yeah, let’s see what happens.” The people in my band were saying, “Man, I didn’t know we were playing on Garth Brooks’ record. And I t
