Less could be more for Harry Connick Jr.

Harry Connick Jr. stormed into the Hollywood Bowl on Friday and claimed it as his own. Backed by a big band of road-hardened jazz warriors, he gave a two-hour-plus performance that offered a superb display of his diverse talents.

Start with his singing. Still in his mid-30s, Connick has been touted as the heir apparent to Frank Sinatra since he released his first album at age 18. And the similarities were still present, especially in his jaunty, attitude-driven renderings of “I Want to Be Around” and “Just in Time” as well as his tender balladry on “Our Love Is Here to Stay” and “Only You.”

But there was more: Connick’s hard-swinging piano work, a gumbo of styles reaching from New Orleans to Thelonious Monk; his easygoing leadership of a band filled with longtime musical associates; and, amazingly, his orchestrations, superbly crafted musical works often moving beyond arrangements and into the area of imaginative recomposition.

Add to that his wry sense of humor, his whimsical interactions with his audience -- especially during a jaunt across the raised platform circling through the garden seats -- and the evening (which had opened with a brief set by singer-guitarist Doug Womble) was complete.

At a time when both pop and jazz are having identity crises, Connick impressively revived the productive partnership the genres once shared.

It remains to be seen whether he will continue to do so and at what level. The fundamental question underscoring Connick’s progress has always centered on whether his creativity would best be served as a singer, pianist or actor.

A high achiever in each arena, his eclecticism -- in terms of time, energy and focus -- has seemed to limit the breakout stardom that might flow from a more specifically defined career track.

And, with a recurring role in the NBC sitcom “Will & Grace,” the lead in John Grisham’s recent film “Mickey,” a newly released album -- “Only You” -- and a busy touring schedule, Connick doesn’t appear likely to narrow the range of his activities any time soon.

His Bowl appearance suggested that, at the very least, the quality of his music has not been diminished by his work as an actor.

But it also suggested that he can do much more, that his extraordinary skills as a pianist, singer, arranger and all-around entertainer make a convincing argument for a greater emphasis upon a rich, productive life as a creative musical artist.