Amos Lee - "Amos Lee"(Blue Note, 2005) * * *

Norah Jones meets Bill Withers with a touch of Ray LaMontagne on the side. This wonderful album from an astounding talent you've likely never heard is well worth spending $10 to hear. Smooth jazzy vocals meet soulful instrumental arrangements on the singles "Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight" and "Arms of a Woman" and urge you to keep listening. "I am at ease in the arms of a woman," he sings, while his listeners are completely at ease letting his smooth voice wash over them. Albums like tihs one don't come along every day, but it appears Blue Note's A&R folks are on the right trail. If you're a fan of jazz, soul, blues or r&b you should give Amos Lee a listen. There's bound to be something you'll like mixed in here. After 19 weeks on the Heatseekers chart the album has risen to #13, and with the Billboard 200 not too far away, I suspect you'll be earing a lot from this "artist to watch" in the future. With tracks like the bluegrass-tinged "Bottom of the Barrel" mixed in, blending soul with down home country sounds, it's hard to find fault with this audacious debut.