Harper rocks Tory Christmas party

Prime Minister Stephen Harper took the stage at the Conservative caucus Christmas party in Ottawa on Wednesday night, playing the piano and belting out a number of rock hits.

Harper performed a five-song set list that included Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline, the Guess Who's Share the Land and the Rolling Stones' Jumpin' Jack Flash.

Harper was introduced by his wife, Laureen, who said they were hoping to kick off the festivities with something different this year.

The prime minister, dressed all in black, was accompanied by the band Herringbone  — also dressed in black shirts and black slacks — and launched into Sweet Caroline.

They then played I'm On My Way by The Proclaimers. The prime minister said for their third song, they wanted to play a little rock 'n' roll. But first he offered a tribute to the late John Lennon by playing a few bars of Imagine.

For the next song, The Who's The Seeker, Harper left the piano and stood behind the microphone, grabbing it from the stand as he walked back and forth on the stage and sang.

He was back at the piano for The Guess Who's Share the Land and concluded the set with an encore — The Rolling Stones' Jumpin Jack Flash.

Last year, Harper, who made it to Grade 9 in the Royal Conservatory of Music, surprised guests at a National Arts Centre gala in Ottawa by playing the piano and singing a rendition of The Beatles' With a Little Help From My Friends.