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
Connick's long-avowed love of artists like
Stevie Wonder and
Dr. John. With
Every Man Should Know,
Connick 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
Connick'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
Connick lovingly evinces the lush and romantic '60s bossa nova recordings of
Stan Getz and
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 and
Leroy Jones, respectively. Ultimately,
Every Man Should Know is a record with something for every
Connick fan. ~ Matt Collar