Harry Connick Jr. can do more than sing love songs.

Friday night at Stephens Auditorium, Connick not only sang but also played a piano, a stringed bass, a full trap set, tap danced and produced an atmosphere that can be created by no other performer of this generation.

The spotlights generated a warm purple glow, accenting the piano and trap set. A heavy, dark red curtain, outlined by a lacy green curtain, bordered the stage to create a mood of elegance.

Couples slowly trickled in the door, anticipating a night of inspiring music and romance.

Members of Connick’s jazz quartet (tenor saxophonist Charles Goold, bassist Reginald Veal and drummer Arthur “Bam Bam” Latin) came onto the stage as the orchestra, protected by a sheer purple curtain, began playing “Let’s Just Kiss” from Connick’s new album.

As Connick casually walked on stage when it was time for him to sing, he was encouraged by a huge applause from the audience. After the song, he welcomed the Ames crowd and explained that the evening would be romantic.

“If you’re here with someone you love, I want you to snuggle up to them,” Connick said. “If you’re not, I’m really sorry.”

Connick sang a few more original compositions from his “To See You” then sat down at the piano for “Let Me Love Tonight.”

Despite improvisational elements in the piece, Connick managed to make every note sound natural and in perfect tune with the rest of the band.

While he and the rest of the jazz quartet played their solos, the audience seemed mesmerized by the stage presence and musicianship of the performers.

After 10 minutes of jazz improvisation, the song finally ended, and Connick began playing a cover of Irving Berlin’s “Change Partners.”

While the orchestra played a subtle tango beat in the background, Connick’s voice was complemented by a variety of haunting oboe solos.

Following the piece, the curtain closed on the orchestra, and Connick explained that the jazz band would play by itself.

“I love playing with an orchestra. It’s like being on a magic carpet. It has some restrictions though, cause you can’t stop and go off on a tangent,” Connick said. “But here, you can go off and [the band] will be like, ‘go off baby, I got your back, I got your back.'”

Different musicians, with instruments including the trombone, the baritone saxophone and the tenor saxophone, came onto the stage during the different pieces to perform solos.

During some of the songs, Connick interjected excerpts from Broadway showtunes to get a reaction from the audience.

After three jazz pieces, the musicians took a break, and Connick entertained the audience by telling them some interesting information about his past.

Connick said because he grew up in New Orleans, he was exposed to both jazz and classical music, both of which were beneficial to his future.

“I used to play the Billy Joel songs to impress the girls,” Connick said.

Although he loves rock ‘n’ roll and funk, Connick said it’s good for him to play jazz because it’s America’s most difficult art form.

“It’s like eating at McDonalds,” Connick said. “But every once in a while, you should have an apple or something healthy.”

Following a personalized version of “Danny Boy,” during which Connick demonstrated his ability to improvise the blues, the orchestra and band came back onto stage.

The final number of the night began with Connick and drummer “Bam Bam” Latin tap dancing in center stage.

Eventually, the musicians danced over to each other’s instruments, and Connick began playing the drums and Latin began playing the piano.

When Connick was finished, he walked over to bassist Veal and the two players switched instruments. After they played for a while, the audience began applauding, to which Connick replied, “I’m not through with him yet.”

The two musicians finished their duo and the rest of the band and orchestra came in with some swingin’ big band music to signify the end of the song and the concert.

After much applauding from the audience, Connick returned for an encore performance of a “Harry Connick Jr.” rendition of “It Had To Be You.”

When all was said and sung, it was a night to remember for many couples and for many Connick fans.