Harry Connick, Jr.
's 2013 studio album
Every Man Should Know
finds the New Orleans native delving into a handful of original songs that touch upon country, pop, and R&B, with only a few jazz-oriented cuts in the mix.
Connick
has gone in the original pop direction before with 1994's R&B-infused
She
and 1995's soulful
Star Turtle
, as well as on the second line funk-centric
Smokey Mary
, which came out earlier in 2013. Those albums showcased
's long-avowed love of artists like
Stevie Wonder
and
Dr. John
. With
,
attempts yet another foray into the world of the contemporary singer/songwriter, focusing less on funk and more on a gospel and country-inflected sound. Tracks like the title song and the bluesy, minor-key "One Fine Thing" are compelling and very
Carole King
meets
Van Morrison
-esque, framing
's big croon, sincere lyrics, and deft piano with some urbane orchestral flourishes. Equally effective is the yearning Latin jazz number "I Love Her," in which
lovingly evinces the lush and romantic '60s bossa nova recordings of
Stan Getz
Joao Gilberto
, replete with string and flute backgrounds. He also revisits his '90s jazz approach on the laid-back "Being Alone" and the New Orleans second line-inspired "S'pposed to Be," which feature trumpeters
Wynton Marsalis
Leroy Jones
, respectively. Ultimately,
is a record with something for every
fan. ~ Matt Collar