To See You

Slow and sensual, Harry Connick Jr.'s ode to love is a shock to those accustomed to the pop stylings of his best-known work. In spirit, To See You represents a return to Connick's prestardom self, reflecting the imaginative musicality of that edgier sensibility. Yet Connick shows off a matured ability for composition and arrangement, creating poignant tapestries for his love-struck protagonists. On "Heart Beyond Repair," Connick confidently backs off midway through a torch-song vocal, giving saxophonist Charles Goold room to blow seductively through to a quiet swing groove. Connick lets the song fade in and out, finding a mysterious rhythm in the quiet patches, only to bring back that croon for a final coda. Elsewhere, the inventive use of the orchestra colors "Love Me Some You" with abrupt tonal and dynamic shifts, enhancing the song's jazzy, sometimes dissonant core. In exploring the oldest subject matter known to humanity, Connick has a trustworthy muse with which to experiment. Fortunately, his exploration of the heart yields riches of tuneful discovery. --Matthew Cooke