POP MUSIC REVIEW : Harry Connick Jr. Takes a Swing at Pop at the Bowl

Some people are never satisfied.

Harry Connick Jr. had a lucrative career in full bloom--leading a swing band, crooning vintage romantic songs and playing jazz piano. Suddenly he jettisoned all that and detoured into New Orleans-style pop-jazz laced with funk and rock. His new album, “She,” features his new style, and so did his show at the Hollywood Bowl on Monday.

In the two hours plus, there may have been a total of 15 minutes of quality music. Connick’s talented combo was hardly challenged by his middle-of-the-road, surface-skimming hybrid.

It’s more pop than anything else, but there was just enough New Orlean-style jazz and funk to make his audience feel that they were being a little daring and widening their musical horizons. If there were any real New Orleans jazz fans there, they were probably cringing.

For Connick’s fans, though, the show obviously had great entertainment value. He won them over with extensive between-songs patter, pouring on the charm and plying them with jokes. Connick is more skilled at schmoozing with an audience than singing or playing piano.

Watching this show is particularly tough for fans of the ‘40s-style music he usually performs. Connick is terrific at crooning that great old material, sounding much like early Sinatra. Connick’s turn into pop music was like Mick Jagger doing a set of polkas--it’s not what he does well.

Connick will probably say he’s trying this new style both to satisfy his spirit of adventure and to finally play the music he loved growing up in New Orleans. That may be true, but there’s clearly another element. You can bet that lurking behind those noble intentions is a plain old yearning to be a pop star.

Connick has probably gone as far as he can playing in that crooner-swing mode, which attracts an older audience that doesn’t buy many records. But this new, more radio-friendly style appeals to younger, record-buying fans, and could make him a pop star.

Could Connick be the new Barry Manilow?

* Connick plays tonight at the Open Air Theatre, San Diego State University, 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $27. (619) 594-6947.