Come By Me

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

Connick is a showman's showman, a star of films, a reviver of trends (youthful swing) and a sharp dresser besides. Given all his flair, a central point can get lost: he's also a masterly jazz performer. After a few ill-advised recent forays into funk and balladry, Connick here returns to form. Sure, the album could do without some of the slower numbers, but there's a lot to love--the sparkling title track, a rendition of Time After Time. Connick's vocals are deft and his piano playing fluid. A swing and a hit.

--By Christopher John Farley