Haley Reinhart at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas (VIDEO)

By On 12/15/2012 · 45 Comments · In American Idol, Haley Reinhart

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American Idol alum, Haley Reinhart, put together a free-wheeling set of her songs, rock and jazz classics for a 3 day residency at the Las Vegas bar, Cosmopolitan.

You can watch the entire set at HaleyTusk’s You Tube Channel. The Season 10 American Idol alum performed the series of concerts last week.

Check out a few highlights below, including Cole Porter’s ‘Night and Day”, Miles Davis’ “All Blues”, “Brazil” and a Casey Abrams-less “Moanin”.

Night and Day

All Blues

Song for My Father (Brazil)

Moanin

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  • justmefornow

    I know it’s always said that management sets up the touring, but James and probably Casey, (I’m not sure, I don’t follow him) are on 360 deals with their labels so maybe the labels had more to gain and actively helped in pursuing touring mates for them. That could be the difference right there with Haley’s situation.

    If Haley can get signed to an Indie with a similar type deal I’m sure there will be more emphasis on touring. At this stage they all need this experience. Not only does it make them better performers, but it exposes them to tons of potential new fans in their genres opening for the right act. 

    Plus it can only help their music sales. (James sold a 1/3 of his total sales while he was touring).

  • LA944

    Here’s my take on it. I think Casey was always a very good performer. Sure–being on the road helps everyone grow–but he just was good from the beginning. Even being in the hospital till a few hrs prior to performing on AI the first few wks-he was a pretty electric 19 yr old on stage. It’s in his personality. That’s Casey

    OTOH. I think Haley is a wonderful performer too. I don’t see anything negative about her skill on stage. She’s just a different kind of performer-than Casey or James. She’s got her own thing happening. She’s more of a quiet presence–I guess you can say. She has been performing in front of audiences since she was quite young. This who she is–and I think it’s just fine. I am not sure what people want her to do.

    She is a hell of a singer. Her voice is an instrument–she sings like a musician. (Why do u think Casey is so in awe of her vocals–he gets it) It’s flipping fantastic! I guess people want to see her dancing around or something like some auto-tuned pop star. I say screw that.

    The thing about Caley is that he’s more hyper and a bigger personality on stage which works well with her more laid back style. They compliment each other in that way.

    Haley wasn’t dropped from Interscope for lack of talent that’s for sure.

  • Xentusk

    I think it’s also important to point out that the second night, she and her band were even better.  I think they discovered that the Jazz format allowed for more creativity and improvisation.  From those who were lucky to be there for a third night, it was said that they were better still, maybe more raucous and into their performances.

    Keith Phelps, Haley’s keyboard player, tweeted that it caused him to scream on stage he was having so much fun.  In three days of two hours of performing, there was more of a gelling among them than there was during any of the ‘radio station’ stops she was performing in.

    Which speaks to how important the touring process is, the gelling with your musicians, in carving out your career.

    One final thing, both nights I was there, by the end of the two hours the crowd had gathered significantly and cheering her on.  She had huge response from the crowd for her covers at the end of the night, “Bennie and the Jets” and “House of the Rising Sun” and “Oh Darlin’”.

    I think this was mainly because for those that didn’t know Haley but recognised the familiar lyrics, they enthusiastically responded to her interpretations of them, which was ‘new’ to the Las Vegas casino crowd.  She ended each night with a bang to enthusiastic responses from passive viewers passing by

  • Xentusk

    I agree with your “Yin/Yang” comparison describing their musical relationship.

    I’m not all too sure Casey is as he was as a performer, I seem to recall Casey admitting, himself, that it was performing on AI that drew out his performance style.  Before that he was more reserved, not as overt with his mannerisms.

    IMO as I watched them their first night in Vegas, I remarked to a fellow Halien, I could easily see an album collaboration between Haley and her keyboardist, Keith Phelps, before we see a collab album with Haley and Casey.

    While Casey brings ‘showman’ and ‘bombast’ as well as well as a ‘sexual’ tension/playfulness to his musical relationship with Haley, there is an artier more sophisticated vibe to Haley’s musical relationship with Keith.  I love hearing Keith play to Haley’s vocals.

    Something about Keith goes so easily and smoothly with what Haley
    brings.  It is an entirely different synergy between the two
    relationships.  From the first time I met him in Spokane, Washington, I
    was sold on Keith.  I have no musical education other than I know what I
    like, but something about the way Keith plays and how he sounds, is
    very easy to the ear and turned me to a fan from day one of hearing
    him.  Vegas was the biggest exposure yet of Keith to Haley’s fans and I
    think he was above amazing.  Watching the two silently, interact on stage is a real treat.

    IMO Haley has happened upon a very talented ‘find’ in Mr Keith Phelps

  • girlygirltoo

    If/when Haley does go out on tour, I hope they consider booking her in jazz and/or blues clubs. I think she could build a whole new fanbase doing that.

  • Xentusk

     I loved and wanted ‘Rock and Roll’ Haley, We never really got a clear glimpse of that side of Haley after AI.  She performed “Spiderweb”, the rock song of “Listen Up!” only once and that was at Lollapalooza.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiCzfVgEDKU

    That being said, I’m not sad about it at all.  Haley has opened up Jazz to me and I’m loving it.  I agree with you, she is taking so easily to Jazz and Blues that I trust her to trust her instinct and follow it.

    Maybe someway someday she will pull out the “Rock Chick” I’ve been waiting for since “What is and What Should Never Be” on AI and flex her rock and roll styling.

    I would love her to play tribute to my homegirls Heart, who along with Rush, have finally been voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    Haley singing “Baracuda” or “Crazy on You” anyone?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GIRFMNI2ELGND3HUAJV7KXZGUQ Bobo Arcjoe

    She was one of the hottest girls who ever came off idol

  • irockhard

    Many other Idols got booed at sporting events, football stadiums have a lot of drunks in the crowd. And Atlanta is not a major center for rock because of its large black population, so it wasn’t that significant an event.

  • irockhard

    I acknowledge that you’re a fan of both Haley and James and that you have defended James against attacks by other fans of Haley, I’ve seen you do it.

    I’m as protective of James as you are of Haley, and there are other James’ fans who are just as protective of him as I am. I’ve never been this protective of an Idol that I like before, probably because James has endured so much hardship in his life, possibly more than Haley will ever know.

    I do sympathize with Haley’s situation, it’s unfortunate that the Interscope-Haley relationship didn’t work out. However if any Haley fans are going to bash James as means to make themselves feel better about it that is not going sit well with me and I’m going to deal out a harder blow NOT because I want to get a fan war going but because I’m trying to get them to STOP doing it.

  • http://twitter.com/reynaldodp Reynaldo Pagsolingan

    Haley’s fans here are nothing but sweet and some people here just had to ruin it. God, get over yourselves. I am not a fan of either of these two but some of these James fans are immature hacks. Reinhart sounds good on those vids, btw. I see nothing wrong with her performing skills.

  • justmefornow

    Apparently the lack of all this stupid crap being starting by a Haley fan bashing James and his Atlanta Falcons performance hasn’t been noticed by you  (Hint: read back over the previous postings, lol).
    I wish Haley all the best, it’s a very tough business. I do not bash Haley, but if James is bashed by any fan of another idol, I, like irockhard, will respond.

  • Xentusk

    There are similar components to every fan base, bottom line is part of what I enjoy about AI is the ‘discovery’ of young and new talent.  Especially enjoyable is when you find yourself feeling attached to the struggles and triumphs of someone you support.
    Undoubtedly, James has overcome much to get where he is.  Haley’s fans have also endured unjust perceptions and beligerent opinions on her character so it’s understandable when their fans have reflexive defensive reactions.
    Hopefully we can move on from these attitudes and look at the bigger picture.  Haley and James are living lives they could only dream of just over two years ago, lets celebrate that :)

  • jpfan2

    Sorry but every time I see Halien I laugh a little. It’s one of the funniest Idol fan base names ever. I always think of someone dressed out of Star Trek.

  • Xentusk

    OK that’s where I draw the line…dissing Trekkies!! LOL (or is that Trekkers…I forget) :P

    Abrams is now signed with Concord Records, the jazz label that is also home to Esperanza Spalding, Carole King, and Kenny G.

    http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/01/10/casey-abrams-american-idol-record-deal/

    If she did sign with them, the possibility of a Caley collaberation increases :D

  • Happyhexer

    During AI10, Haley was one of my early favorites (very early), but I became fans of multiple contestants.  I have CDs by Haley, James, and Lauren.  All three are good, and interestingly, they all do different types of music.  (Also like Naima and CaseyA.  I like Scotty as a person and I like his voice in the abstract, but I don’t care for his musical phrasing.  Hoping he improves for Era #2.)

    As for Haley, I’ve been a bit disappointed in what I’ve seen of her performances post-Idol.  Haley has killer vocals, of course.  But in general, she doesn’t look relaxed or comfortable, she isn’t losing herself in the music, and she doesn’t seem to be connecting with the audience.  With the band, yes, with the audience, no.  It’s like she lost her confidence, her mojo.  We know she’s capable; she did it on Idol.  She was fearless.  Remember her aplomb when she messed up her lipstick on the mic?

    I am not sure what is going on, but it may be a bit of a Catch-22, if she has felt pressured because of the lack of album sales.  (And BTW, I wish more peeps would give her CD a listen.  It’s really good.)  I do wish Haley would tour and/or do more gigs.  I think it would help her to relax and regain her confidence.

    As for comments about Haley and CaseyA pairing up, I understand that desire.  They strike sparks off each other musically and enter their own musical world, while we watch, enchanted.  But otherwise, I don’t know what to think.  The music industry is struggling, and musical diversity has narrowed drastically.

    I do think both Haley and Casey can do more than jazz — for example, rock and folk.  But jazz lights them up.  I like jazz, so ???

    At the end of the day, I wish all of the Idols the very best.  I hope as many as possible sustain a career in music.

  • Xentusk

    Of course it’s all perception and opinion… unless you’ve seen her live, it’s not fair to make a judgement on whether she is connecting with her audience or not from watching videos.  I don’t see it.  One of Haley’s strength during live performances, IMO, is her playfulness with her audience. She was certainly more relaxed in Vegas than I have seen her.

    Post Idol, I would chanllenge that assertion that she isn’t relaxed and doesn’t connect with the audience with my videos from Lollapalooza.  She was on fire then and having a blast.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWw9uGGX2AU

    The only time I sensed a little nervousness, perhaps, was @ Carnegie Hall.  I think the event and stage was almost overwhelming for her, but she still sounded marvelous.  This was confirmed in the recent THR article as well

    That was one of the scarier things I have done,” she tells THR. “I was with the
    big boys, and I was so honored

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-alum-haley-reinhart-402408

    So speaking as someone who has attended some of her more significant performances, she is always relaxed and confident on stage (except at Carnegie… a little nervous) and often plays off the audience’s energy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

    WTF is she doing at a loud-as** bar in Vegas?

  • Xentusk

    She met Quincy Jones at the Mohammed Ali Birthday celebration where she performed with Slash and Myles Kennedy.

  • Happyhexer

    I respectfully disagree that one cannot make a judgment about an artist’s performance based on videos.  We do it all the time, even when we watch AI on TV.  Of course it’s not the same as being there live, but that doesn’t mean an assessment can’t be made.

    I was basing my comments on the totality of Haley’s post-Idol performance videos, and I stand by my opinion.  Others may feel differently.  My only point was that (IMHO of course) Haley could benefit if her management was able to get her more gigs or a tour.

    We all have our special snowflake, but it’s a tough world outside the Idol blogosphere . . .

  • http://twitter.com/reynaldodp Reynaldo Pagsolingan

    Well, taste is subjective. She sounds incredible in that Vegas performance. She plays subtlety beautifully and she hits big notes with gentleness and power.

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