Harry Connick Jr. - Every Man Should Know (2013)

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 João 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)