Musicians turn up emotional heat, just in time for summer

While we're a week away from summer, musicians are already on the case with new collections designed to see you through the heat - emotional as well, um Fahrenheital.

FRANKS SPEAKING: Nobody is capturing the moment in breezier fashion than jazz-attuned popster Michael Franks with "Time Together" (Shanachie, A-). Not much has changed in his sound orschtick through the years, except now Frank is singing with a certain nostalgic air on sunny, bossa-nova flavored ditties like "One Day in St. Tropez" or the touching "If I Could Make September Stay," his variation on Sinatra's hit "September of My Years." Backed by an all-star jazz band, the party's off and running with the living-easy "Now That the Summer's Here." Franks also visits "Summer in New York," "Charlie Chan in Egypt" and a passionate Paris in "Samba Blue," and serves whimsical advice like "I'd Rather Be Happy than Right." Made in the shade.

CHANGE PARTNERS: People really come out of their cocoons in the summer. It's a great time for hooking up, though also, sadly, a reason for breaking up.

Soul chanteuse Ledisi is definitely accentuating the positive on "Pieces of Me" (Verve Forecast, B+). The woman's always had a fantastically pliant R&B-, jazz-, pop-attuned voice. This new set adds a contemporary flavor that casts her more as a Beyoncé or Janelle Monae rival than as the next Anita Baker (a past reference). Please to note all the hard-edged stripped-down production flourishes, though balanced with Ledisi's organic lead singing and self-made backing choir dynamics.

She has a good stylistic mix, too - from the ready for dancing "Shut Up" and "Shine" to the playful, jazz-sipping "Coffee" and the warm, John Legend-scribed ballad "I Miss You Now," conflicted blues "Hate Me" and gospel-tuned "Raise Up."