Jon Regen
He's a pianist who gained his chops in jazz, but Jon Regen has developed into even more. On his suave and soulful new album, Revolution, you can still hear some of the jazz background, but mostly what you hear is someone who has developed into a supremely accomplished pop artist. Think Harry Connick Jr., or maybe Billy Joel without the bombast - except the New York-based Regen carves out his own niche as both a writer and singer. He moves effortlessly from the rock-edged "Fighting for Your Love" to the insistently catchy "She's Not You (But Tonight She'll Have to Do"), and on to quiet, late-night laments like "One Part Broken, Two Parts Blue" that never sound maudlin. In these parts, Regen may not be as well-known as some of his accompanists - Andy Summers, Benmont Tench - but this album shows he deserves to be.- Nick Cristiano